The Cal Poly Mustangs, the No. 2 seed, secured a 4-2 win over top-seeded UC Santa Barbara on Tuesday night, clinching a spot in the championship game of the 2026 Big West Baseball Championship.
A Pitching Duel to Remember
Cal Poly’s pitching staff delivered a masterclass, fanning ten Gauchos while surrendering just six hits and two runs. Starter Carson Turnquist tossed six innings of two-run ball, striking out seven, before handing the ball to closer Nick Bonn, who recorded his 14th save of the season.
The offense matched the pitching’s intensity, piling up 12 hits. Designated hitter Cam Hoiland went 4-for-4 and scored a run, while second baseman and catcher Ryan Tayman contributed a 2-for-5 effort. Their timely hits kept the Gauchos at bay.
The scoring began early, with UC Santa Barbara striking first in the bottom of the first on a walk by William Vasseur. Cal Poly answered in the second with a squeeze play from Dante Vachini. The Gauchos surged ahead in the fourth on an RBI single by Noah Karliner, but the Mustangs tied the game in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Xander McLaurin. Jake Downing delivered an RBI single in the seventh to put Cal Poly ahead, and Nate Castellon added an insurance run in the eighth.
Looking Ahead to the Title Game
The Mustangs will now await the winner of game six, which will be contested on Saturday, May 23 at 6 p.m. The championship matchup promises another high‑stakes showdown as Cal Poly looks to capture the title, while the Gauchos will regroup for another battle.