The Cal Poly Mustangs have once again proven their prowess on the baseball field by winning the Big West Championship for the second year in a row. In a closely contested game held at Cicerone Field at Anteater Ballpark in Irvine, California, the Mustangs edged out UC San Diego with a 4-3 victory, securing their automatic berth into the NCAA Championship.

Key Moments in the Game

Cal Poly, seeded second, demonstrated strong performance throughout the game. The Mustangs took an early lead in the bottom of the second inning when center fielder Casey Murray Jr. singled to bring in Cam Hoiland for the first run. The highlight of the game came in the fifth inning when right fielder Dylan Kordic hit a three-run home run, extending Cal Poly’s lead to 4-0.

UC San Diego, the third seed, responded with determination. In the sixth inning, they scored two runs to narrow the gap. J.C. Allen’s RBI ground out brought Gabe Camacho home, and Thomas Maher drew a walk with the bases loaded, allowing Trevian Martinez to score.

Closing the Game

The game intensified in the ninth inning as UC San Diego attempted a comeback. Addison Klepsch’s RBI double brought the Tritons within one run. However, Cal Poly’s closer, Nick Bonn, who was named Tournament MVP, managed to secure the win by intentionally walking Camacho and forcing Allen to line out, ending the game.

With this victory, Cal Poly will enter the NCAA Championship for the fifth time in the program’s history, showcasing the team’s consistent excellence and competitive spirit.

Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.