Needing a win to force a rubber match against their rivals UC Santa Barbara, Cal Poly Baseball faltered in the late innings, losing 4-2 on Friday.
The Mustangs (17-12, 10-4 Big West) jumped out ahead early and starter Corden Petty was in line for the win when he left the mound. The Gauchos (18-10, 7-4 Big West) tagged each Mustang pitcher with a run on their ledger.
Alejandro Garza snapped out of his 0-14 stretch in a huge way with two hits, an RBI single and RBI double which represented the only scoring from the Mustangs.
The UC Santa Barbara pitching staff was just as stingy in game two, giving up just five hits and two walks with two hit batters. Once runners got on they buckled down, holding Cal Poly to a 2-13 (.154) mark.
Chris Downs was charged with the loss after back-to-back sacrifice flies in the seventh gave the Gauchos the lead for good. Pettey was impressive despite the no decision, scattering six baserunners across six innings with an unearned run.
The defense cut down two runs at the plate. A Dante Vachini–Nate Castellon relay got Noah Karliner trying to score on a double in the fifth, while Cam Hoiland and Garza teamed up to prevent a sacrifice fly in the sixth.
Cal Poly struck out seven times in the last three innings, multiple times going down looking. They went down 12 times in total in game two, paired with Jackson Flora’s nine strikeouts in game one they have been out on strikes 21 times through two games.
They’ve struck out as a team the least amount of times in the Big West overall. Santa Barbara’s ability to rack up strikeouts this weekend is a testament to the pitching development they have but also a sign that the Mustang offense has not been firing on all cylinders.
Cal Poly will get one more chance to right the ship and beat UC Santa Barbara on Saturday, April 4. The Mustangs need a win to avoid the sweep at home and to retain their hold on second place in the Big West.
