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Cal Poly Baseball faces No. 4 Saint Mary’s for a chance to advance to first Super Regional in program history
Final: ZERO! CAL POLY SWEEPS THEIR WAY TO THE SUPER REGIONAL! Nick Bonn gets the strikeout of Jared Mettam to seal his 17th save of the season, and secures Cal Poly the 5-2 victory over Saint Mary’s. It’s the first time in school history that the Mustangs have advanced to the Super Regional round. They will play the winner of Monday night’s tilt between West Virginia and Kentucky. Thats all from Westwood!
B9: Nate Castellon makes a wonderful stop up the middle for the second out of the inning. One out remains.
B9: Jacob Johnson waves at a slider away for the first out of the inning. Two outs away.
M9: Cal Poly can’t get insurance in the away half of the ninth inning. Bonn is on the try and shut the door.
E8: NICK BONN COMES THROUGH! Bonn induces the inning ending double play to preserve the three run lead. Three outs remain.
B8: Diego Castellanos extends his WCC record hit streak to 39 games and that puts runners on first and second with no outs. Out comes Head Coach Larry Lee and in comes Nick Bonn to collect potentially a six out save.
M8: Nothing comes of it for Cal Poly. Corden Pettey comes out for another inning of work. Alejandro Garza had an ROE last inning changed to a hit, he is now the career record holder for hits at Cal Poly with 253.
T8: A fielder choice brings the top of the lineup up with two away and runners on the corners. It also brings Eric Valenzuela out for a chat.
T8: Casey Murray Jr. has continued his great NCAA Regional performance with an infield single back up the middle to get a runner on for Cal Poly.
E7: Corden Pettey goes 1-2-3 in relief of Volmerding. Six outs remain.
M7: Stretch time in Westwood. Still 5-2 Mustangs as Corden Pettey is summoned from the bullpen in relief of Volmerding.
E6: Volmerding has performed wonderfully since giving up runs in the second and third innings. Nine outs remain.
M6: Nobles gets out of the inning, but the damage has been done. Cal Poly’s four run sixth slingshots them three runs ahead. For our out counters, 12 outs stand between Cal Poly and a super regional appearance.
T6: Jake Downing’s single through the right side of the infield is enough for Valenzuela to come out and pull Roberts. Jake Nobles is in to pitch for the Gaels, the third arm of the inning.
T6: GAVIN SPIRODONOFF HAS GIVEN CAL POLY THE LEAD! His 4th homer of the campaign got out of here in a hurry! It’s given the Mustangs a massive 5-2 lead in the back half of the game. It gets a right hander in the Saint Mary’s bullpen firing in a hurry.
T6: David Roberts walks the first batter he faces in Cam Hoiland. It should be noted this is his second appearance today, he pitched a scoreless 10th inning and picked up the win against UCLA a couple hours ago.
T6: TAYMAN TIES THE RECORD!! His 18th of the year ties him with Monty Waltz for the most home runs in a season at Cal Poly. It ties the game 2-2 and draws Eric Valenzuela out to pull Hilton. David Roberts, another lefty, is in for Saint Mary’s.
E5: Volmerding gets out of it, with a huge strikeout before inducing a flyout to end the inning. Score is still 2-1 Saint Mary’s.
B5: Tanner Griffith is now just a homer away from the cycle, after his one out triple puts an insurance run 90 feet away for the Gaels.
M5: Halfway home in Los Angeles, Garza’s hard hit finds the glove of the centerfielder and the side is retired. Still Cal Poly gets one run back, 2-1 Saint Mary’s as Volmerding comes back out to work the fifth.
T5: Castellon delivers! A two out RBI single into left scores Casey Murray Jr., Castellon advances to second on the throw, and that draws Eric Valenzuela out to have a chat with Hilton. 2-1 Gaels.
T5: Cal Poly should have runners on the corners and no outs but a great defensive play at first gets the out and holds Murray Jr. up at second after a leadoff single.
E4: And answer he does, Volmerding gets a 1-2-3 inning to close up the fourth. Cal Poly still chasing two runs.
M4: Hilton has gone scorless through four innings and given up just two hits. Volmerding looks to answer.
E3: Through the early innings and Cal Poly is chasing the game again against Saint Mary’s. 2-0 Gaels.
B3: Saint Mary’s tacks on another run, as Makoa Sniffen lines it past Garza at third for the RBI single. 2-0 Saint Mary’s.
B3: Its a leadoff double for the Gaels at the top of their lineup to start the home half of the inning.
It appears my call yesterday for a fast kid to come down to LA has been answered, as a Cal Poly kid has won the dizzy bat race against their Saint Mary’s counterpart
M3: Cal Poly has nothing going through three. Hilton has done well to keep hitters off balance.
E2: Volmerding gets his fourth strikeout of the game, but Saint Mary’s holds a 1-0 lead.
B2: Saint Mary’s strikes first on a one out double by Jared Mettam just out of the reach of Murray Jr. in center. 1-0 Gaels.
M2: Cal Poly gets another runner on, but the side is retired.
T2: Cam Hoiland reaches on an infield single to start the inning.
End 1: Volmerding gets a swinging strikeout to end the frame. 0-0 as we head to the second.
B1: Volmerding gets the strikeout but Griffith swipes his 19th bag of the campaign.
Bot 1: It takes Saint Mary’s all of two pitches to have their first hit of the ball game, a single back up the middle.
Mid 1: Thats all the Mustangs get however, Josh Volmerding goes to work in the home half of the first.
Top 1: Alejandro Garza gets the Mustangs going with an end of the bat single into center field. That ties the Cal Poly program record for hits in a career with 252.
Nate Castellon digs in and we are underway at Jackie Robinson Stadium!
Despite the handedness switch, same lineup as yesterday. Castellon – SS, Garza – 3B, Kordic – RF, Tayman – C, Hoiland – DH, Downing – 2B, Murray Jr. – CF, Spiridonoff – 1B, Vachini – LF
Welcome back to the City of Flowers and Sunshine, Los Angeles. For the first time in program history Cal Poly has started 2-0 in a Regional, and now sit 27 outs away from their first ever Super Regional appearance. The offense has come alive in Los Angeles after struggling in Irvine last weekend. They have put up 20 runs in their first two games against Virginia Tech and Saint Mary’s after just 11 runs across their championship run in the Big West Tournament. They’ll face Saint Mary’s again after the Gaels knocked off national No. 1 seed UCLA in walk-off fashion in extra innings. They plated a run in the ninth to tie it and the tenth to win it. It’s the fifth time that the national No. 1 seed has failed to make it out of their regional I have it on good authority that first pitch is scheduled for 6:06 p.m. tonight.
We have a pair of southpaws on the bump for tonight. Josh Volmerding (0-1, 7.65) draws the start for Cal Poly while Jake Hilton (4-4 1 SV, 5.53) earns the start for Saint Mary’s. Due to Cal Poly being the home team against the Gaels yesterday, they are the designated away team today and will bat first.
Cal Poly faces No. 4 Saint Mary’s for chance to advance to Los Angeles Regional finals
Final: Casey Murray Jr. tracks down a ball in the gap and makes a spectacular diving play to seal the win. Mustangs dominate to. 14-1 victory. Turnquist turned in yet another great start and the offense came alive for six and five run frames. It is the first time Cal Poly has started 2-0 in a regional in their five trips. They await the winner of Saint Mary’s and UCLA tomorrow at 1 p.m. and will have two cracks at advancing to their first super regional against the winner of the Morgantown regional. Have a good night.
E8: Nothing going for the Mustangs, Troy Cooper is on to close the game out.
M8: Morano gives up a double, but ends the inning with a strikeout.
E7: Cal Poly tacks on two more runs with some RBI walks. 14-1 as Josh Morano comes in to get some work in.
I wanted to update the Goodyear blimp situation. Did some research and THE Goodyear blimp is over in Georgia according to their website. That leaves us with three options: It is a different Goodyear blimp but not the one that is featured in commercials and songs, It is a non-Goodyear affiliated blimp or the aliens have invaded. Due to the lack of commotion and flashing lights I think it is one of the first two options.
B7: Murray Jr. works a full-count walk to bring in another run. 14-1 as Saint Mary’s makes a pitching change. It’s right hander Noa Waldeck
B7: Jake Downing draws the bases loaded walk to score another run. 13-1.
B7: Castellon and Garza again have led off a frame with back to back hits. Runners on first and second with no one out.
M7: Stretch time here in Los Angeles, its 12-1 as Downs works his way out of a minor jam. New pitcher for SMC, Diego Emerling will get some work.
T7: Downs has run into a bit of trouble here with two hits to start his appearance. A lot of runs to work with however.
E6: Cal Poly tacks on five more runs. It is 12-1 now, Chris Downs is on in relief for Carson Turnquist. Final line of 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER and 7 K’s.
B6: Spiridonoff has himself a two hit game tonight as he laces one to center field, scoring Murray Jr. to make it 12-1. Warmups have started yet again in the Saint Mary’s bullpen.
B6: Casey Murray Jr. had himself a good start in game 1, and has added on a 2-RBI double into left center to extend the lead to 11-1.
B6: Downing gets the job done with a sacrifice fly to center, Garza easily jogs home to make it 9-1 Mustangs.
B6: A walk followed by Jake Downing almost wearing it off the dome is all Valenzuela needs to see. Right hander Cooper Berger is on for the Gaels and will inherit a 1-0 count and a bases loaded situation.
B6: Tayman collects his second RBI of the night with a single into left field to plate Castellon. 8-1 Cal Poly
B6: The Mustangs are in business in the sixth, back-to-back singles by Castellon and Garza put runners on the corners and no out.
M6: Turnquist keeps dealing, he gets Ian Armstrong to go window shopping for the third out of the inning. Max Johnson comes on to pitch for the Gaels.
T6: Gaels get another runner into scoring position with a one out double down the left field line.
Dueling “Let’s go Mustangs” and “Lets’s go Gaels” have broken out in the intermission. Both teams have traveled extremely well to Westwood.
E5: Spiridonoff draws a walk but is stranded on second base. Turnquist has done well since giving up the run in the second inning. He comes back out to try and keep the Gaels silent.
It appears that the Goodyear Blimp is airborne well beyond the right field wall over downtown LA. Either that or the aliens have started to invade earth and this live blog will turn into War of the Worlds very soon.
M5: A little bit of trouble arises as the Gaels get a single and a hit by pitch, but Turnquist gets a grounder to end the inning. Still 7-1 as we are halfway home.
T5: Well if the first batter is any indication the break has had little effect on Turnquist. He gets Johnson to freeze on a pitch on the outside corner for strike three.
E4: The inning is over. Cal Poly sends 11 to the plate, score six on four hits and strand two. Carson Turnquist gets back to work after an extended break.
B4: The Mustangs have batted around as Ryan Tayman, who led off the frame with a single, draws the two out walk. Action has once again started in the Gael’s bullpen.
B4: Dylan Kordic executes the delayed steal of second to move himself up into scoring position with two outs.
B4: Another run comes across on a wild pitch/passed ball (dealers choice, was inside but not thaaat far inside), this time its Nate Castellon picking up the run. 7-1 Mustangs.
B4: Dante Vachini comes around to score on a wild pitch by the new pitcher Gardini. 6-1 Mustangs.
B4: Mustangs tack on another run! Garza’s chopper bounces sky high, the only play is at first and its now 5-1 Mustangs. That draws out Eric Valenzuela to take Sarantos out of the game. It’s left hander Tal Gardini to face the lefty swinging Dylan Kordic.
B4: Castellon delievers! A single to left scores one and the bases remain loaded for Alejandro Garza. 4-1 Mustangs.
B4: Dante Vachini claims he is hit by the pitch, and after review is granted first base. Bases loaded and one out for the top of the lineup.
B4: The Mustangs are in buisness in the fourth. Spiridonoff laces one into center that takes a funky hop off the fielder and allows Downing to advance to third. Great chance to add at least one more for Cal Poly.
B4: Jake Downing walks on four pitches and that is going to get the Saint Mary’s bullpen moving.
B4: HOILAND HAMMER! Cam Hoiland with a missile into the batting cages behind the right field wall. That is his sixth of the season, and second of the NCAA tournament. It is 3-1 Mustangs with no one out.
B4: A slight delay doesn’t bother Tayman, as he hammers a grounder through the left side of the infield for a leadoff single.
Logan Denholm has forgotten his helmet over at the first base coaching box, and has to sprint across back to the Mustang dugout to go get it.
M4: Turnquist is starting to get in a groove now, another zero goes up on a board on the Saint Mary’s line score.
E3: Garza’s walk is stranded, it is still 1-1 after the early frames.
B3: Cal Poly’s leadoff hit is doubled off. Nate Castellon is really unlucky as he rocketed one back up the middle but straight to the shortstop.
Cal Poly kids are 0-2 in the dizzy bat race at the Regional so far. This is a call for any fast kid to throw on a Cal Poly shirt and get down here to LA.
M3: Carson Turnquist gets all three outs by way of the K. The last one is a beautiful pitch on the inside edge that locks the batter up to end the inning.
E2: A two out error by Ian Josephson doesn’t cost the Gaels, it finds him again to end the inning. A pair of runs in the second cancel each other out and it’s 1-1.
Bottom 2: TAYMAN EXITS THE PARK! A loud shot to left center field leaves little doubt. Its a new Division-I record with 17 on the season for Cal Poly and leaves him one behind the program record. More importantly now for the Mustangs its tied up at 1-1.
M2: A couple of loud outs end the second, still Saint Mary’s holds a 1-0 advantage as the Mustangs get their second ups.
T2: Great play by the Mustangs, they did indeed get Johnson too far off the bag. A laser throw by Kordic and tag by Turnquist get the first out.
T2: Saint Mary’s will strike first on a sky ball that just falls in front of a charging Kordic in right. The Mustangs think they got Johnson rounding off of first too far and are challenging it. 1-0 Gaels either way.
T2: SMC is threatening early in the second with a leadoff double from Ian Armstrong and yesterday’s hero Jacob Johnson at the dish.
End 1: 1-2-3 go the Mustangs. Alejandro Garza barreled one up but it went straight at a fielder.
Mid 1: A two out single is rapidly wiped off the board as Ryan Tayman catches his 17th runner stealing this season to end the inning.
Top 1: A little backdoor cutter/slider action freezes the Gaels leadoff hitter for the first out of the game.
Carson Turnquist kicks and fires, and once again we are underway at Jackie Robinson Stadium. We have managed to both start late or early depending on what time you wish to use.
This game was scheduled for 6 p.m., but if you are to believe the outfield clock to first pitch its looking more like a 6:15 p.m. start.
The Gaels (designated away team today by the way) have 8 of their 9 hitters in the lineup today above a .300 average, the ninth is .272. They have more hitters above .330 than below it in the nine.
Welcome back to Tinseltown, Los Angeles. It’s the No. 3 vs No. 4 as you would expect by seeding, but it’s in the winners bracket game. The elimination game between No. 1 UCLA and No. 2 Virginia Tech had fireworks. Homers were flying left and right, and the Hokies held a 5-3 advantage into the bottom of the ninth. But it all fell apart, the Bruins led off the frame with back to back jacks, then scraped across the winning run on Phoenix Call’s RBI single into left field.
That is what the UCLA regional has given us so far as we head into the night cap. RHP Carson Turnquist (8-2, 3.50 ERA) gets the ball against RHP Lukas Sarantos (4-2, 6.61 ERA), winner advances to the finals with two cracks at winning the regional, loser plays UCLA tomorrow at 1 p.m. in an elimination game.
Same lineup for Cal Poly in game 2, and why not? They created numerous opportunities up and down the lineup. Castellon – SS, Garza – 3B, Kordic – RF, Tayman – C, Hoiland – DH, Downing – 2B, Murray Jr. – CF, Spiridonoff – 1B, Vachini – LF
Cal Poly opens their 2026 NCAA Regional against No. 2 Virginia Tech
FINAL: Nick Bonn shuts the door on the Hokies, collects his Division-I leading 16th save of the season! 6-2 is the final. The Mustangs are on to face No. 4 seed Saint Mary’s in the winners bracket tomorrow at 6 p.m. Have a good night!
M9: Kordic has had two barrels just fall out of the sky, and the side is retired. Bonn is on to shut the door in the opening game for the Mustangs.
E8: Bonn gets out of the jam by getting a swing and a miss on a full count. Cal Poly has a chance to tack on more. Brendan Yagesh is on for the Hokies.
B8: Virginia Tech has the tying run in the on deck circle after two walks, and Head Coach Larry Lee is out of the dugout to get Estes. Nick Bonn is on to try and complete the four out save.
M8: Cal Poly gets a runner to second but strand him there, still a four run lead for the Mustangs as Brady Estes is on from the pen. Naess’ final line is 7 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 5 H and 9 K’s.
E7: Thats all for Virginia Tech in the seventh, a loud but pretty routine flyout for Murray Jr. in center ends it.
B7: Naess induces the 5-4-3 double play, but a run comes across its 6-2 Mustangs. Garza was playing back so its a tradeoff Cal Poly was willing to make.
B7: A double turns into three bags for the leadoff batter as the Mustangs have trouble collecting it. Estes has started to fire in the bullpen for Cal Poly, but Naess likely has some leash still to work with.
M7: Stretch time in Westwood, Cal Poly lead 6-1 as Naess goes out for another inning of work.
T7: Roe comes out and Luke Craytor comes in. The lefty did his job to prevent more runs coming across last frame, but he is currently responsible for Garza on first.
E6: Nine K’s for Naess, his stuff is on today. Still 6-1 Mustangs.
B6: Naess gets a nasty swing for the second out of the inning. Its a big one as the Hokies had gotten a runner to third on a double and wild pitch.
M6: Cal Poly loads the bases but cant tack on more, they have scored a run every inning since the second. 6-1 Mustangs.
T6: Virginia Tech is going to the pen yet again, its left hander Brody Roe this time.
T6: Casey Murray Jr. cashes in his second RBI of the game, this time its a single to left field to score Tayman from second base. Murray Jr. is 4-4 on the day. 6-1 Mustangs.
T6: Stop me if you have heard this before, the Mustangs have two runners on in the sixth. Action has once again started up in the Virginia Tech bullpen, its a lefty warming up.
E5: Naess works through another scoreless inning.
M5: Kordic rockets a ball into the right center gap that just seems to have a parachute and is caught to end the inning.
T5: Mustangs offense has come alive since being sluggish in the Big West tournament, Vachini rips a leadoff double, a pair of great defensive plays prevent two more hits but the run scores anyways at its 5-1 Mustangs.
E4: Naess has settled down after the second inning, he’s through four with just two hits and the one run on his ledger.
M4: Cal Poly can’t tack more on as a sky high pop up end the inning.
T4: Mustangs tack on one more as Casey Murray Jr. beats out the infield chopper, 4-1 Cal Poly.
T4: That will be the end of the day for Eisenreich, as Virginia Tech makes a move to the pen. Its Ethan Grim on for relief.
T4: Downing draws a walk to load the bases for the second time this game. That draws their catcher, then the coach out to the mound to have a chat.
T4: Cal Poly has caused traffic all day long, and has two on yet again with two out.
E3: A two-out Hokies walk is stranded as Naess is up to five strikeouts on the day so far.
M3: More baserunners for the Mustangs but they are stranded. 3-1 as it heads to the home half.
T3: HOILAND OPPO TACO!! Cam Hoiland’s 6th home run of the year restores the two run lead for Cal Poly its now 3-1.
E2: Tightrope, walked. A popout behind first base is followed with a 5-4-3 double play. Cal Poly still holds on to a 2-1 advantage.
B2: The bases are loaded after a walk, there are still no outs and that draws Seth Moir out for a chat.
B2: A line shot into left field plates one, 2-1 Cal Poly.
B2: Trouble brews in the home half of the second, a HBP is followed up with a double in the left field corner. Hokies have runners on second and third and no one out.
M2: Virginia Tech escapes the jam but Cal Poly jumps ahead 2-0.
T2: Mustangs have loaded the bases and are threatening to break it wide open. Action starts in the Virginia Tech bullpen, looks like its Ethan Grim.
T2: Vachini follows that up with a single straight back up the middle, 2-0 Mustangs as the lineup turns over.
T2: Gavin Spiridonoff’s baltimore chop will get it done, no chance for a double play either as Murray Jr. got a good break towards second base and Downing scores. 1-0 Mustangs early.
Top 2: Jake Downing gets a charge into a 1-2 offering and laces it off the wall for a leadoff double. It should be noted balls were carrying in the previous game, Jacob Johnson’s game winning home run was a high flyball that just trickled and trickled over the wall.
End 1: Griffin Naess is on it today, he gets all three batters by way of the K.
Bot 1: Naess opens up the game with a nice swinging strikeout of the Hokies leadoff hitter.
Mid 1: Cal Poly gets a hit to go along with the leadoff HBP but the threat is over. Griffin Naess takes the bump.
And we are off! Castellon digs in and is promptly hit by the first pitch. Early runner on for the Mustangs.
Lineups are in, Cal Poly working with the same nine as last game: Castellon – SS, Garza – 3B, Kordic – RF, Tayman – C, Hoiland – DH, Downing – 2B, Murray Jr. – CF, Spiridonoff – 1B, Vachini – LF
Welcome to the City of Angels, Los Angeles, Cal Poly embarks on their second straight foray into the NCAA Baseball tournament after winning the Big West Tournament in Irvine last weekend. They’ve drawn into the national No. 1 seed UCLA’s regional, but a shock throughout the collegiate baseball world happened a couple of hours ago when No. 4 seed Saint Mary’s stunned the hosts with a ninth inning homer to take a 3-2 victory. The Mustangs draw against the No. 2 Hokies from Virginia Tech in the ACC. We don’t have lineups yet but the starting pitching matchup is Cal Poly’s ace RHP Griffin Naess (7-4, 4.24 ERA) against Virginia Tech’s Logan Eisenreich (2-2, 5.94 ERA).
