Cal Poly Baseball had lost all momentum by the time extra innings rolled around.
The Mustangs (27-9, 15-1 Big West) had held the lead ever since the fourth inning, and were one out away from getting out of a jam in the eighth inning.
The Gauchos (24-12, 10-9 Big West) refused to go quietly, as they smacked a two-out two-RBI triple to tie the game at 3-3.
In the bottom of the ninth, Cal Poly failed to execute a suicide squeeze, stranding the runner between home and third before flying out to end the inning.
Even in the bottom of the ninth, a two-out error could have spelled disaster, as the next hitter singled before senior reliever Jake Torres got out of the inning.
As the evening sun that backdropped the game in the early frames disappeared into the Pacific Ocean in the eleventh inning, senior Ryan Fenn swiped second base to put himself into scoring position. All it took was a two-out single from senior Casey Murray Jr. to give the Mustangs a 4-3 lead that they would not relinquish.
The Mustangs’ 4-3 triumph in extras is their second win in extra innings, after a 10-9 walkoff win against Cal State Fullerton to open Big West play.
Gaucho starter Tyler Bremner was as advertised on the mound, MLB.com No. 4 draft prospect, struck out 13 batters in his seven innings of work.
Still, Cal Poly was able to tag him for three runs, with freshman first baseman Jake Downing ripping a triple to plate the final run against Bremner.
Fenn and sophomore third baseman Alejandro Garza both turned in multi-hit games to extend their hitting streaks, 14 and 19 games, respectively.
Sophomore righty Griffin Naess turned in yet another quality start this season, and once again was saddled with a no-decision.
Naess went seven strong innings, scattering four hits and two walks, giving up just one run.
Sophomore lefty Chris Downs got the call for the eighth inning, and with two outs gave up a two-RBI triple to tie the game up.
Downs is usually a reliable arm to turn in clean innings, but has hit a snag recently, giving up two runs in each of his last two appearances.
Jake Torres was called upon to keep the game tied in both the ninth and tenth innings, before closing the door on the Gauchos in the eleventh to end the game.
Cal Poly goes for the series win against their Blue-Green rivals on national television on Friday, April 18, at 6 p.m. on ESPNU.