The 2026 campaign will be remembered as a watershed moment for Cal Poly baseball, as the Mustangs finished just two victories shy of a berth in the NCAA Division I Men's College World Series.
The team captured both the Big West Conference regular‑season crown and the tournament championship, delivering the program’s fifth regional appearance and its inaugural Super Regional berth.
Star‑studded contributions
Transfer Ryan Tayman, who came over from Cal, paced the offense with a .357 average and 57 RBIs, while shortstop Nate Castellon hit .328 with 14 doubles, five homers and 31 RBIs.
Nick Bonn, a Dallas Baptist transfer, anchored the bullpen with 17 saves and a 3.44 ERA, and Carson Turnquist added nine wins on the mound after arriving from Oklahoma.
Outfielder Casey Murray Jr. started every game, posting a .316 average with 22 extra‑base hits and 31 RBIs, and third baseman Alejandro Garza finished his junior year at .318 with 50 RBIs.
Dominant pitching and historic records
The Mustangs’ pitching staff set a new school mark with 563 strikeouts, while the team shattered 11 all‑time program records for wins, hits and other categories over the last two seasons.
Veteran head coach Larry Lee, now boasting 752 victories at Cal Poly and 1,212 in a 40‑year career, emphasized the squad’s camaraderie and the program’s upward trajectory, noting the need to recruit a catcher for the next cycle.