Cal Poly Baseball had their perfect conference record snapped to go along with a nine game win streak against Hawai’i on Friday, April 11 at Baggett Stadium 4-2.
The Mustangs (23-9 12-1 Big West) could not convert on two bases-loaded situations late in the game as the Rainbow Warriors (24-8 10-6 Big West) escaped danger to keep the game close.
The 12-0 start to conference play is the best in the Big West since Fresno State in 1988. The conference was then known as the Pacific Coast Athletic Association, and Cal Poly was still eight years away from being a full-time member.
Power shows out
The long ball powered the Mustang attack, with both runs coming off solo home runs.
Cal Poly struck first, with senior designated hitter Cam Hoiland clearing the wall in right field for a solo home run and his third of the year.
The Mustangs got another in the sixth with sophomore third baseman Alejandro Garza’s first collegiate home run, a rocket shot into the trees in left field to make it a 2-1 ball game.
The bases were loaded later in the inning, but Hawai’i made a pitching change before getting the next two batters out to strand all three.
The Mustangs would enter the bottom of the ninth tied and quickly got the winning run to third on back-to-back singles by freshman left fielder Dante Vachini and senior second baseman Ryan Fenn.
Garza’s pop-up behind first base was not deep enough to tag, and after an intentional walk to junior catcher Jack Collins, Hawai’i got the next batter out to escape the jam.
Down two runs in the extra frame the offense went down in order as the Rainbow Warriors took the series opener 4-2.
Fenn extended his hit streak to 10 games with a three-hit performance, while Garza’s home run stretched his hit streak to 15 games.
Naess turns in season-best start
Sophomore right-hander Griffin Naess turned in one of the best starts of his career as a Mustang during a game in which his counterpart, Itsuki Takemoto, largely held the offense in check.
Naess got through the first nine batters in order before he ran into trouble in the fourth frame. The Rainbow Warriors were able to scrape a run across on a softly hit ball back to the mound, where he was unable to get out at the plate.
After that, it was smooth sailing for the righty, who tied his career high in strikeouts with seven on the night. His final line was eight innings pitched with a run on four hits and a walk; he would be saddled with the no decision.
“I struggled early in the season, but I made a lot of adjustments with our mental coach and pitching coach,” Naess said. “It showed today, I’m glad im feeling good.”
Senior right-hander Tanner Sagouspe was called upon to collect the save and ran into trouble. With runners on first and second and no outs, the Mustangs fielded a bunt that moved the runners over.
Sagouspe induced a shallow fly ball to left field that Hawaii decided to tag on, the throw into the infield deflected off the glove of the cutoff man and bounced away.
The run scored but Cal Poly was able to get out of the inning as they got the runner on second trying to take the extra bag.
Sagouspe came out for the tenth inning but was tagged for a two-out, two-run blast, which would prove to be the difference.
Cal Poly will lick their wounds and try to exact revenge against Hawai’i on Saturday, April 12, at 3 p.m. at Baggett Stadium.