Mustangs Edge Past 49ers in Baggett Stadium Showdown
On May 16, 2026, the Mustangs of Cal Poly hosted the 49ers of Long Beach State at Baggett Stadium, turning the evening into a showcase of offensive firepower and tactical baserunning.
The first inning opened with a surprise as Lina and Dylan launched deep homers to left field, putting the visitors ahead early and setting a brisk tempo for the contest.
Cal Poly answered swiftly; Murray Jr. and Casey worked the middle with singles that plated Castellon and Nate, while also moving Kordic and Dylan forward, illustrating a blend of contact and aggression.
The third inning saw Turner and Murchael deliver a left‑side hit that drove in Chandler and Smith, and advanced the already‑on‑base Lina and Dylan, underscoring the Mustangs’ knack for timely RBI hits.
The fourth inning brought Turner and Murchael’s left‑side single that drove in Chandler and Smith, advancing Lina and Dylan, while Smaka and Kaiden’s middle single added two more runs and moved Turner and Murchael into scoring position.
Hoiland’s right‑side single in the fourth added two more runs, driving in Downing and Jake and pushing Spiridonoff and Gavin into scoring position, while later Castellon’s own single cleared the bases for Hoiland and Cam.
A sacrifice bunt by Garza in the same inning moved Vachini and Dante forward, allowing Castellon and Nate to advance, a move that highlighted the team’s situational awareness.
Tayman’s fourth‑inning single to right field plated Castellon and Nate and sent Kordic and Dylan into scoring position, further stretching the lead.
Vachini’s fifth‑inning single, aided by a fielding error from Smaka, cleared the bases for Spiridonoff, Gavin and Hoiland, cementing a five‑run burst that swung the game’s balance.
The eighth inning produced a timely RBI single from Downing, driving in Tayman and rounding out a steady accumulation of runs.
Pitching Matchups
On the mound, Cal Poly’s staff featured Volmerding, Josh, Cooper, Troy, Estes, Brady and Bonn, while Long Beach State relied on Gerfers, Jason, Iglesias, Joey, Banda, Cristien, Tymick, Mason and Ramos.
The contest stretched to 151 pitches from the Mustangs and 140 from the 49ers, reflecting the endurance of both arms and the high stakes of each at‑bat.