Cal Poly baseball lost its second straight game, this time in walk-off fashion to LMU, 8-7 on March 25.
It’s been a season of streaks for the Mustangs (15-10, 9-2 Big West), who have endured a six-game losing streak followed by a ten-game win streak. This trend of contrasting streaks can not continue for a team with high hopes at repeating as Big West champions.
This marks Cal Poly’s first midweek loss of the year, and it comes at the hands of a not-so-stellar Lions team (8-20), which had lost its previous seven games.
It was a back-and-forth affair, with the Mustangs striking for one run in both the first and second innings, giving freshman pitcher Sean McGrath an early lead. The right-hander has given up 16 runs in his last nine innings of work. The Mustangs need him to return to form to shore up their pitching staff, particularly in midweek matchups.
The Lions took advantage of big innings, scoring four in the fourth and three in the eighth before an RBI single won the game in the ninth.
Left-handed pitcher Josh Morano had a nice outing in relief, striking out five over three 2/3 scoreless frames. Cal Poly closer Nick Bonn had his first real hiccup of the season, suffering the loss after allowing four runs in one 2/3 innings. This was only the second appearance in which Bonn conceded a run.
Offensively, the Mustangs’ lineup continued to swing it well, compiling 11 hits. Left fielder Dante Vachini went 3-5 with three RBI, raising his batting average to above .300. Nate Castellon and Alejandro Garza had productive days at the top of the order, each reaching base three times.
The loss is a small blip in an otherwise good stretch of baseball from the Mustangs, and they look to resume their stellar in-conference play with UC Riverside next on the slate. Cal Poly will travel to Riverside for a weekend series starting on Friday, March 27 at 2 p.m.