Cal Poly Baseball used a four-run ninth inning to snap a four-game skid and power their series-opening win against CSU Bakersfield on Friday, winning 4-1.
It was an ace day pitching duel; it took the Roadrunners (17-30, 8-14 Big West) until the seventh to notch a run while the Mustangs (29-15, 16-6 Big West) had to wait until their final at-bats of the game.
It also marked Cal Poly’s first Big West win since they defeated UC Santa Barbara on Thursday, April 17.
Neither offense could muster much as both Ryan King and sophomore right-hander Griffin Naess cruised through the opening frames.
The Mustangs would invariably threaten to score, loading the bases in the third and getting runners into scoring position numerous times, but were constantly unable to find the hit that would score the run.
Meanwhile, CSU Bakersfield looked stifled on offense until the home half of the seventh inning. They were able to string together two base hits and a wild pitch to push a run across and take a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the ninth and facing down a six-game conference losing streak if they failed to score, Cal Poly’s offense came alive.
A lead-off single by freshman shortstop Nate Castellon was followed up by a ground out that moved him to second.
Senior center fielder Casey Murray Jr. took advantage of the large gap left by the Roadrunners in the right side of the infield to score the speedy Castellon to tie the game.
Later in the inning with two on and two out, senior second baseman Ryan Fenn uncorked a triple into the right-center gap, scoring both and then came in on a single by sophomore third baseman Alejandro Garza to cap the four-run inning making it 4-1.
Senior lefty Jake Torres was called upon to take the ninth inning. Naess’ final line was eight innings pitched with one run on five hits and a walk.
Torres gave up a pair of walks but induced a groundout to collect the save and end the game.
Cal Poly goes for the series victory against CSU Bakersfield on Saturday, May 3 at 6:30 p.m. at Hardt Field.
