Due to inclement weather, Sunday’s contest was moved up to Saturday, March 29, for a doubleheader.
Cal Poly won game one 11-0 behind a high-powered offense and a lockdown start from sophomore lefty Josh Volmerding, then took the nightcap 5-1 with a big game from junior catcher Jack Collins.
The Big West-leading Mustangs (18-8, 9-0) took both games in a convincing fashion, completing their third straight Big West series sweep and extending their program record start to Big West play. The Aggies (12-13, 3-6 Big West) scored only four runs across the three games in the series.
It was Cal Poly’s sixth straight win over UC Davis and pushes their head-to-head record to 13-3 since 2020.
Volmerding leads combined shutout in game one
Volmerding took the hill for the opener and was absolutely dominant. He carried a no-hitter all the way into the ninth inning, only hitting two batters and walking another.
It was broken up on the first batter in the ninth inning, and Volmerding was pulled as hit pitch count hit 110. His final line was eight scoreless innings, with one hit and nine strikeouts. He now leads the Big West with 44 strikeouts this season.
It’s Volmerding’s career-best start, and it also happened one year to the day of Griffin Naess’ one-hit performance against Cal State Fullerton
Junior right-hander Erik Kvidahl got the call from the pen and got the next three outs with no problem to secure an 11-0 victory.
The Mustang offense got into a rhythm in the middle innings. A two-RBI single from senior right fielder Dylan Kordic got the scoring started, and he later came around to score.
Cal Poly scored multiple runs in the fifth, seventh and eighth innings, making it a comfortable game as Volmerding was putting up zeroes.
Senior second baseman Ryan Fenn led the way with three hits, swiping his team-leading seventh bag in the fifth inning.
It was a complete team effort as seven of the nine starters recorded both a hit and a run, even pinch hitter junior Xander McLaurin got in on the fun. McLaurin entered the game in the seventh and recorded hits in both at-bats and scored a run.
The Mustangs put up their eighth game of double-digit runs and looked to take the momentum into the second game of the doubleheader.
Marmie, offense continue rolling in game two
Collins got the ninth inning off from catching, being lifted in a double switch with Volmerding. The break appeared to energize Collins, as he hammered a 2-0 pitch over the left field wall, making it a 2-0 game in the first.
McLaurin got the start at designated hitter after a 2-2 performance and promptly rewarded head coach Larry Lee’s decision by leading off the second with a home run. He has collected six hits in the last four games he has appeared in.
A double by sophomore third baseman Alejandro Garza plated another run to make it 4-0 and also extended Cal Poly’s team lead in the Big West for doubles (71).
Sophomore right-hander Ethan Marmie turned in yet another strong start in conference play.
The only spot of trouble came in the fifth inning, with two runners in scoring position and one out. Marmie gave up an infield RBI single but then got the next two batters out to stop the bleeding at 4-1.
His final line was six innings pitched, allowing one run on six hits and three strikeouts.
Marmie is tied with Volmerding for the Big West lead in innings with 41 ⅓. Six innings is on the shorter side for a Marmie start this season, only longer than his Oregon State and UCLA appearances.
Senior lefty Jake Torres took over in relief for Marmie, and he turned in two scoreless innings of relief.
In the top of the ninth, Collins ambushed the first pitch he saw for his second home run of the game, extending the lead 5-1. It was Collins’ third home run in the ninth inning this season (fourth if you count the home run that was called back in the Oregon State opener) and put him one behind the Big West lead.
Senior right-hander Tanner Sagouspe came in for the ninth, even though it was no longer a save situation, and closed the door on the Aggies in the ninth to secure the series sweep.
Cal Poly has a day off before heading to Fresno State for a Monday showdown, playing the Bulldogs at 2 p.m. at Bob Bennett Stadium on March 31.
