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Winner-takes-all as Cal Poly matches up against No. 3 seed UC San Diego for the Big West title

Final: ONCE AGAIN CAL POLY ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE BIG WEST! Nick Bonn induces Allen to line out to left field and the Mustangs are on to the NCAA tournament! 4-3 is the final, Corden Pettey earns the win, Bonn collects his program record 15th save of the season.

T9: Late drama again, Klepsch gets this one off the wall tying run is in scoring position, the go ahead run is on first after they intentionally walk Camacho. J.C. Allen digs in. 4-3 Mustangs.

T9: Potestio rockets one to the center field wall where its caught by Murray Jr. the runner advances 90 feet, but there are now two outs. Coach Lee hops out of the dugout and in comes Nick Bonn to try and collect the save and the Big West crown. He’ll get Addison Klepsch with Gabe Camacho and J.C. Allen behind him if Klepsch were to extend the game.

T9: Maher works the count full and lines it into left field for a single. Tying run now at the plate for UCSD. Raphael Dunn is on to pinch run.

T9: Downs gets Widelski to fish at an offspeed pitch in the dirt for the first out of the inning.

E8: Widelski, Maher, then to the top of the Tritons lineup in Potestio due up.

E8: Murray Jr. is stranded and the inning is over. Chris Downs comes out to try and close the game down, with Nick Bonn surely waiting in the wings if he were to run into trouble.

B8: Murray Jr. continues his hot day at the plate with his third hit of the day, this time its a one out double.

M8: Chris Downs has sat down 7 in a row, a great bounce back performance from last night. Cal Poly has three more outs to try and tack on insurance. Devon King enters in relief for UCSD.

T8: Alex Leopard goes around on a pitch that hits him, and it drills him dead in the wrist. He’s trying to stay in the game but doesn’t appear like he will. Delshaun Lanier will inherit a 0-2 count.

E7: The two out threat doesn’t come to pass, Chris Down comes out for his second full inning of work with a 4-2 lead.

M7: Stretch time in Irvine, Downs works a 1-2-3 inning as the Mustangs look to tack on some insurance runs.

E6: Cal Poly gets a runner to second but thats as far as he goes, still 4-2 Cal Poly as we head into the late frames in Irvine. Chris Downs comes back out for his first full inning of work.

M6: Damage done, but Downs gets a flyout to end the frame. 4-2 Mustangs.

T6: Back-to-back walks brings in a run and brings out head coach Larry Lee to make a change, its Chris Downs who pitched yesterday in to limit the damage.

T6: Some two out traffic gets action going in the pen for Cal Poly. Seth Moir comes out for a chat with Brady Estes.

T6: Cal Poly trades the run for a groundout, 4-1 Mustangs.

T6: UCSD looks to get at least one back in a hurry, as they greet Estes with a leadoff triple.

E5: Tritons escape the inning, but Kordic has done the damage already. Brady Estes is in the game, Pettey did marvelously going five scoreless frames with seven strikeouts.

B5: KORDIC GOES DEEP! Dylan Kordic’s ninth of the year might be the biggest one of his career! Thats going to draw Julian Cazares in from the bullpen to relieve Villar. 4-0 Mustangs.

B5: Its starting to sound like a broken record, but Cal Poly has two runners on with one out in the fifth inning. Action has started in the Triton bullpen yet again.

M5: The Defensive Player of the Year comes up with a sliding grab in center to end the inning. A pair of top level defensive plays help keep San Diego off the board.

T5: A gold glove level play from Castellon wipes the leadoff hitter of the board.

E4: A warning track fly out ends the frame. The half inning the Tritons squander a bases loaded opportunity, Cal Poly gets their first two runners on and can’t cash it in.

B4: Mustangs have gotten two runners on base for the third inning in the game. Great chance for Cal Poly to capitalize on.

M4: Jake Villar will reliever Rector for the Tritons. He did his job to limit the damage and now UCSD looks for 6 innings from a fresh bullpen.

M4: Pettey works his way out of the jam, a big opportunity for UCSD goes for nothing. Mustangs looking for insurance.

T4: Another walk loads the bases with two out, and draws Seth Moir out for a chat.

Top 4: A walk and a single gets the Mustang bullpen up and moving. Pettey is however a grounder away from getting out of the inning.

E3: A trio of hard hit balls find the glove of Widelski in center, through the early frames its 1-0 Cal Poly.

M3: Pettey is working effectively, just the one double on the ledger.

E2: Cal Poly strikes first as the teams head to the third, Mustangs up 1-0.

B2: Murray Jr. puts Cal Poly on the board! His first hit of the tournament is a big one, scoring Hoiland on a single to make it 1-0 Mustangs.

B2: Interesting situation. Tritons turn two, but Hoiland is being sent back to second base despite being forced to run. Believe it is some sort of interference call.

B2: Hoiland’s lead off walk is followed by Jake Downing’s single. Two runners on again for the Mustangs as Jake Villar heads to the Triton bullpen to start firing in the bullpen.

M2: A one out double by San Diego gets stranded, Pettey is up to five strikeouts through two innings of work.

End 1: The innings is over after Rector induces a big double play ball for the Tritons. 0-0 as we head to the second.

B1: Kordic lines a single into left field and Mustangs for the fourth game in a row get two runners on in the first.

Bottom 1: Leadoff batter reaches for Cal Poly, Nate Castellon laces a 2-2 offering into left field.

Mid 1: Corden Pettey gets two strikeouts in a 1-2-3 inning. Mustangs get to go to work with their bats.

Pettey sets and fires to Anthony Potestio and we are under way for the winner take all game in Irvine.

Its the same lineup as yesterday against the fourth right handed starter the Mustangs have seen, Cal Poly is the designated home team and will take the field first. Castellon – SS, Garza – 3B, Kordic – RF, Tayman – C, Hoiland – DH, Downing – 2B, Spiridonoff – 1B, Murray Jr. – CF, Vachini – LF

For the fourth and final day welcome back to Cicerone Field on the campus of UC Irvine. No more do overs for the Mustangs, they have had roughly 16 hours to regroup after the 12-2 mercy rule loss they suffered last night against the Tritons. Winner goes on to NCAA regionals, likely with UC Santa Barbara to make it a 2-bid Big West for the second year in a row. Right hander Corden Pettey (3-2, 5.03) has missed the past two starts, but with all hands on deck draws the start for the Mustangs, while UC San Diego turns to an opener in Trevor Rector (0-3, 12.41) who has made 6 starts but only pitched 12 innings this season. The ability and availability of both teams bullpens will be a big story line in this game.

Cal Poly looks to claim back-to-back Big West Championships in matchup against No. 3 seed UC San Diego

Final: Tritons mercy rule the Mustangs 12-2. Cal Poly gets one more shot at winning the Big West title tomorrow back here at Cicerone Field, first pitch scheduled for noon.

B8: Tritons tack on another with an RBI double. 10-2 UCSD, with two runner on and no outs.

M8: Ryan Tayman’s one out double gets stranded. McGrath comes out to get his first full inning of work.

E7: McGrath walks in a run but gets a grounder. 9-2 UCSD and Cal Poly needs the bats to explode if they want to avoid a winner take all game tomorrow.

B7: The Tritons have loaded the bases, and that will spell the end of the line for Downs. Sean McGrath enters the game to try and keep this game in reach.

B7: The wheels are starting to fly off the wagon for the Mustangs. An error has extended this inning, and allowed the Tritons to tack on another on a hit just out of the reach of a leaping Downing. 8-2 UCSD.

B7: UCSD has scored two runs now, with two wild pitches helping to plate one run, then a stolen base, balk and pop fly that no one can get to with the infield in scoring the other. 7-2 Tritons.

B7: The Tritons get it right back in the bottom of the inning, a leadoff walk followed by two wild pitches draws the infield in. Castellon can’t cleanly handle the absolute bullet hit at him from 75 feet away and its 6-2 UCSD.

M7: Xander McLaurin straight swaps with Thomas, who pinch hit for Dante Vachini, to play left. Downs goes out for another inning of work.

M7: Stretch time in Irvine, Cal Poly gets one back but they need at least three runs in the last two innings to get back in it.

T7: A strikeout of pinch hitting Braxton Thomas is the end of Bowkers day. A great outing for the freshman who goes 6 2/3rd with two runs given up, currently in line for the win. Kayden Henson is first out of the pen for the Tritons.

T7: SPIRIDONOFF INTO THE TREES! Gavin Spiridonoff leads off the seventh with a homer over the left field wall, its his third of the year and has ignited the Mustang dugout. 5-2 UCSD.

E6: Widelski launches one into the left center gap, just like he did two nights ago. It’s hit harder but Casey Murray Jr. tracks it down in the gap nonetheless for the third out.

M6: Bowker is stifling the Mustangs bats. Jake Downing goes down looking to end the frame, but a couple of hard hit balls found Triton gloves.

E5: Downs gets a pop up and check swing strike three to get out of it. 5-1 Tritons as the temperature starts to drop with the sun setting behind the Costa Mesa skyline.

B5: A walk to Gabe Camacho spells the end of the day for Cooper, Chris Downs is on to escape the jam with two on and one out.

B5: It takes San Diego two batters to score on Cooper, a single, wild pitch and single bring home the Tritons fifth run of the game.

M5: Halfway home and Bowker looks nothing like that 7 ERA, he’s scattered five hits and two walks for just the run in the first inning. Volmerding’s day is done, final line 4 innings pitched with 4 runs on 4 hits. Troy Cooper is on to keep the deficit at three.

T5: A two out single by Garza, his second hit of the game, will draw a mound visit to Bowker. Action once again has started in the Triton bullpen.

E4: Volmerding catches Nate Widelski window shopping to end the inning, Cal Poly has taken good at bats all day long but need those to translate into production to get back in this game.

B4: A beautiful kick save by Volmerding to Downing at second base gets the second out of the inning. Manuel Neuer would be proud.

M4: Bowker has settled into a rhythm, he needs just nine pitches to sit down the Mustangs.

E3: Early innings done at Cicerone Field, 1-2-3 inning for Volmerding. Cal Poly have gotten a runner each inning but its just the leadoff score for the Mustangs. 4-1 UCSD.

M3: Cal Poly goes down 1-2-3 as Hoiland may or may not have beaten out the double play ball. He’s called out and no challenge is forthcoming from the Mustangs.

E2: Volmerding strikes out Klepsch, but the damage has been done. It’s a four run frame for San Diego, 4-1 Tritons.

B2: It is confirmed safe, and the Tritons have jumped out to a 4-1 lead.

B2: A sacrifice fly and potentially a steal of home makes it 4-1 Tritons. It’s going to be reviewed.

B2: Another single will score, and all of a sudden San Diego is up 2-1 with no outs still in the inning.

B2: A walk puts a runner in scoring position and gets action going in the Mustang bullpen.

B2: UC San Diego again leads off with an extra base hit, this time its a triple that skips around in the right center gap. The very next batters grounds a single to tie the game 1-1.

M2: Castellon’s two-out seeing eye single gets stranded, still 1-0 as Volmerding goes back to work.

End 1: Volmerding works around the leadoff double, getting JC Allen to strikeout to end the frame.

Bottom 1: Anthony Potestio rudely greets Volmerding by lacing his first offering down the left field line for a leadoff double.

Mid 1: Bowker escapes further damage, but Cal Poly has spoted Josh Volmerding the early 1-0 lead.

T1: Jake Downing follows it up with a 10 pitch marathon at-bat, drawing a walk to load the bases for Spiridonoff. Bowker’s pitch count is already at 30 as motion begins in the Tritons pen.

T1: Cam Hoiland comes through! It won’t be three straight games where the Mustangs strand two runners in the first without scoring. Hoiland makes it five at-bats in a row with a hit, and Cal Poly jumps ahead 1-0.

T1: Three games in the tournament, three games where the Mustangs get two runners on in the first.

Top 1: Mustangs get their first knock early, with Alejandro Garza’s first hit of the tournament going back up the middle.

The anthem has been sung and warmup tosses completed as Nate Castellon takes a first pitch ball and we are under way in Irvine!

One change for the Mustangs today, Cam Hoiland fresh off a 4-for-4 game against UCSB swaps spots with Casey Murray Jr. in the lineup. Castellon – SS, Garza – 3B, Kordic – RF, Tayman – C, Hoiland – DH, Downing – 2B, Spiridonoff – 1B, Murray Jr. – CF, Vachini – LF

For Cal Poly on the bump its sophomore southpaw Josh Volmerding (0-0, 7.31). The Tritons are sending out freshman right hander Austin Bowker (4-1, 7.20). If you believe the ERA numbers we should see some fireworks but crazier things have happened. Both bullpens are also relatively fresh, Cal Poly has used 4.1 innings from Nick Bonn and Brady Estes across two games while UCSD has used just two innings from Devon King in their elimination game Friday night.

Welcome back to the City of Innovation, Irvine, for day three of the Big West Baseball tournament. In the 1 p.m. elimination game UC San Diego jumped all over UC Santa Barbara in the first inning, scoring five in the frame en route to a 7-0 victory. If Cal Poly were to be victorious either tonight or tomorrow it would be the first back-to-back conference titles for the program since 1993-1994, and would mark back-to-back regional appearances since 2013-2014. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Cicerone Field.

Cal Poly takes on No. 1 seed UC Santa Barbara in Big West heavyweight matchup

FINAL: Cal Poly 4, UCSB 2. The Mustangs beat the Gauchos for the first time this season, and for the second straight year, Cal Poly will play in the Big West Championship game. They await the survivor of the loser’s bracket: UCSB, UC San Diego, or CSU Fullerton. The championship will take place on Saturday at 6 p.m.

B9: Tying run will hit with one out following a base hit to right. Next batter lines out to Garza. One out away.

B9: Bonn blows 97 by the first batter he sees on a 3-2 count. Two outs away.

B9: 9-1-2 due up for the Gauchos. Bonn is throwing for the second consecutive day after recording a four-out save in last night’s win.

M9: Two runs will have to be enough for Cal Poly as they go down in order, all by way of the K. Nick Bonn enters looking for save 14 on the year.

E8: FILTH from Estes as he eliminates any threat from UCSB. Mustangs would like some insurance in the ninth, but are three outs away from a win.

B8: Castellon makes a smooth sliding play to steal a hit. Estes has been effective out of the pen thus far. Nick Bonn is tossing in the bullpen. Tying run up for the Gauchos with two out.

M8: Cal Poly adds a run, and Estes will work with a 4-2 lead.

T8: Nate Castellon has his second RBI in as many days, knocking in Hoiland to give Cal Poly a much-needed insurance run. 4-2 Stangs.

T8: Have a day, Cam Hoiland. The Mustangs’ DH is 4-4 after blasting an opposite-field double to start the eighth inning.

E7: Estes indeed escapes the jam with a groundout to second. Mustangs maintain the 3-2 lead.

B7: UCSB gets the tying run into second with one away. Heart of the order coming up. A wild pitch moves the runner to third. Estes fans the batter, and is one out away from escaping the scare.

M7: Cal Poly grabs the lead on its 10th hit of the afternoon. Freshman Brady Estes enters for Turnquist.

T7: DOWNING COMES THROUGH! The sophomore punches one to left field, and the Mustangs have their first lead of the day, it’s 3-2.

T7: Alejandro Garza reaches on an error to lead off the inning. Casey Murray Jr. draws a two-out walk. Jake Downing comes up in a big spot, left-on-left.

E6: The decision to leave Turnquist in proves to be a good one from Head Coach Larry Lee. The big right-hander strikes out the side, utilizing all of his arsenal in the process. He’s up to seven strikeouts.

M6: We’re knotted at two, but the Mustangs should probably have more. Nine hits on the day, and they’ve posed a threat nearly every time up. At 100 pitches, Turnquist returns to the bump.

T6: Hoiland is 3-3. Runners are on the corners with one away. Xander McLaurin will hit for Vachini against the lefty. McLaurin does his job. Sac fly to center ties it back up at two.

T6: Mustangs have the tying run in scoring position with one down. Gauchos make a move to the bullpen, and they’ll bring in a southpaw to face the two lefties due up: Hoiland and Vachini.

E5: In what is most likely his last inning of work, Turnquist works around a two-out double. The line for the right-hander: 5 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, 4K, 100p.

M5: Mustangs leave another runner stranded, upping their total to seven left on base. Turnquist returns to the mound, presumably on a short leash.

E4: The damage is done. Brady Estes began firing in the ‘Stangs bullpen, but Turnquist is able to get out of the jam. Through four innings, it’s 2-1 UCSB.

B4: Those walks come back to bite the Mustangs; Noah Karliner sends another full count offering back to sender for an RBI single to give the Gauchos a 2-1 advantage.

B4: Back-to-back full-count two-out walks get some traffic on for the Gauchos. Turnquist thought both of those would have gotten him back in the dugout as he started to walk off the mound for both pitches.

M4: Mustangs squander the chance. Six hits for Cal Poly, but still just the one run.

T4: A couple of two-out knocks set the table for Castellon.

E3: UCSB picks up its first hit of the game, but Turnquist works around the two-out double to keep the score tied at one.

M3: Kordic picks up a single but doesn’t advance. 4-0 Mustangs advantage in the hit column.

E2: A nice, quick bounce-back inning from Turnquist as he sets the Gauchos down in order.

M2: The score is 1-1 here at Cicerone Field as Turnquist trots back onto the field.

Top-2: Extra bases for Gavin Spiridonoff as he lines a double down the left field line. Cam Hoiland grounds a single into left, and runners are on the corners with one away. Safety squeeze! Dante Vachini lays a bunt down to knot the score at one.

End-1: A big double play limits further damage. 1-0 ‘Chos after 1 inning.

Bottom-1: Steady diet of mid-90’s heaters to the Gauchos leadoff man, and Turnquist has his first strikeout of the afternoon. Turnquist walks and hits the next two batters, and play has stopped while the mound gets tended to. First run of the game comes in from a bases-loaded walk. Turnquist has walked three and hit one after the leadoff hitter.

Mid-1: Cal Poly leaves two runners stranded. Turnquist makes his way to the mound.

First baserunner of the day comes courtesy of a Dylan Kordic four-pitch walk. Ryan Tayman collects the first hit of the day with a single to left—two runners on for the Mustangs with two gone in the first.

And we’re off! Nate Castellon digs in to start the game and promptly flies out to right field.

Same lineup as yesterday for Cal Poly: Castellon – SS, Garza – 3B, Kordic – RF, Tayman – C, Murray Jr. – CF, Downing – 2B, Spiridonoff – 1B, Hoiland – DH, Vachini – LF

Carson Turnquist (7-2, 3.55 ERA) gets the start for Cal Poly, while Calvin Proskey (0-0, 1.99 ERA) will man the rubber for UCSB.

It’s day two here at Cicerone Field in Irvine, and the Mustangs are set to take on the No. 1 seed UC Santa Barbara Gauchos with a spot in the Big West Tournament Championship on the line.

Cal Poly Starts Big West Tournament journey against No. 3 seed UC San Diego

FINAL: Widelski pinch hit in the eighth inning, and with two runners on in the ninth rockets one into the left-center gap that is hawked down by Dante Vachini to end the game. Mustangs win a barn-burner pitching duel 1-0. Naess earns the win to move to 3-4 and Nick Bonn collects his 13th save. See you back at Cicerone Field at 1 p.m. as Cal Poly takes on UC Santa Barbara to advance to the Big West Championship game.

T9: A one out single has turned into a scary situation for Cal Poly, a pickoff bounces off the pinch runner and skips away from Spiridonoff at first. Runner on third and one out for UCSD.

E8: Kordic reaches but is stuck at first base. Murdock threw 134 pitches, gave up three hits and is currently lined up for the loss. Bonn is on to slam the door in the ninth for Cal Poly.

M8: The greatest chance for either side is snuffed out by Bonn, who induces a groundout to Castellon as Cal Poly walks the tightrope. Still 1-0 as the Mustangs have at least one more chance to tack on more runs. Steele Murdock is also going to see the eighth inning for the Tritons.

T8: Another walk from Griffin Naess will spell the end of his night. What a start from the ace of the staff. He is responsible for all three runners but gave the Mustangs 7 2/3rd innings and gave up just two hits, much needed if the tournament becomes a marathon for a second straight year. Big West save leader Nick Bonn is on to try to escape the jam.

T8: Did you expect there to be no drama? The Tritons have gotten two runners on with two outs. Nick Bonn has started to fire in the bullpen, but Larry Lee is electing to stick with his starter to get out the Tritons three hitter Gabe Camacho.

E7: Steele Murdock has beared down and shut down the Mustang bats. In a little bit of a surprise Griffin Naess makes his way out for the eighth. He has been dealing but he is also over 100 pitches.

M7: The two out error doesn’t bite the Mustangs, as Naess racks up his 11th strikeout on what is maybe his final pitch in the game. Stretch time at Cicerone Field, Mustangs still holding onto the 1-0 advantage.

T7: Two quick outs, but an error puts the tying run on. Brady Estes is firing the Mustang pen, and the Tritons have double barrel action going on. Both starting pitchers are over 100 pitches and don’t seem long for this game.

E6: This is a great watch for the neutrals who love pitching duels, maybe not so for the fans of the Tritons and Mustangs. One swing could either double the lead or tie the game, it has gotten a little bit nervy in the ball park. 1-0 as we head into the seventh inning.

M6: First real driven contact by UC San Diego, but its straight at Dylan Kordic in right to end the frame. Naess has put up much needed blanks in the UCSD line score, the Mustang offense has mustered just the one run in the second despite opportunities to tack on more.

E5: The movement remains pretty slow, as the Mustangs go down 1-2-3 in the fifth. One thing to note here at Cicerone Field as the sun sets behind the skyline, the lights are on but are seeming to struggle to take effect. Something to watch as the game gets into the late frames.

M5: Halfway home in Irvine, Naess gets two more strikeouts to bring his total to eight on the night. Murdock has mostly done his part in quieting the Mustang bats, but as he comes out to start the fifth there starts to be some movement down in the Tritons bullpen.

E4: Murdock looked dominant in that frame, two strikeouts and a pop out make quick work of the Mustangs.

E3: After the early frames its 1-0 Mustangs. Cal Poly has had a runner on every inning, but only has the one run to show for it.

M3: Naess has started to roll, with two strikeouts in the third to get back in the dugout. Thats five in the game so far.

E2: Alejandro Garza battles but is unable to extend the inning. Still, Mustangs get one early on Murdock and the Tritons.

B2: Nate Castellon delivers! A full count offering is dribbled into no mans land between the pitcher and third baseman, Downing races in from third to make it 1-0 Mustangs.

B2: Now its the Mustangs who have traffic, two straight four-pitch walks from Murdock have two on and no outs. A sacrifice bunt makes it two runners in scoring position and one out as Dante Vachini digs in.

M2: Naess wiggles his way out of a critical jam early. A Tritons sacrifice bunt gets both runners in scoring position, but Naess induces a shallow flyout then gets the next batter to go fishing to end it.

T2: Tritons are threatening early, an infield single and hit by pitch has two runners on and no outs.

E1: A pair of two out Mustang hits goes for naught, still 0-0 at Cicerone Field.

M1: Griffin Naess racks up two strikeouts in a 1-2-3 first inning. Mustangs get their first crack at Steele Murdock.

Lineups have been announced, the anthem sung and warmup tosses completed. Griffin Naess fires a first pitch strike to leadoff hitter Anthony Potestio and we are off in Irvine!

Starting Lineup for the Mustangs, pretty standard one to open the tournament vs RHP Murdock: Castellon – SS, Garza – 3B, Kordic – RF, Tayman – C, Murray Jr. – CF, Downing – 2B, Spiridonoff – 1B, Hoiland – DH, Vachini – LF

Greetings from Irvine! 2026 Big West Co-Champions Cal Poly are set to defend their Big West Tournament crown yet again as the second seed. Its a tough opening draw for the Mustangs, as they face off against the Tritons and ace Steele Murdock. Against Cal Poly Murdock struggled, giving up six runs over 4 1/3 innings of work. The start before that however, he punched out 17 Gaucho hitters, out-dueling Jackson Flora in a 4-3 victory in Santa Barbara. Griffin Naess earns the start for Cal Poly, Naess pitched six strong innings and earned the win over the Tritons. Stay tuned in here or on our social media accounts, first pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Cicerone Field.