Big West Championships Showdown
UC Santa Barbara’s baseball squad fell 4‑2 to Cal Poly in the Big West Championships, a result that drops the Gauchos into the tournament’s losers bracket.
The Gauchos had early chances, loading the bases in the first inning, but Cal Poly starter Carson Turnquist wriggled out of the jam, preserving the tie.
Calvin Proskey answered for UCSB, tossing 5 ⅓ innings and navigating multiple scoring threats, while a two‑out single from Noah Karliner in the fourth gave the Gauchos a brief lead.
Cal Poly’s offense surged late, with Xander McLaurin’s sacrifice fly in the sixth knotting the game before the Mustangs pulled ahead in the seventh on an unearned run, and Cam Hoiland’s leadoff double in the eighth added insurance.
Coach Andrew Checketts called the contest competitive, noting the narrow margins that defined each rally.
Elimination Clash Ahead
Now the Gauchos must regroup for an elimination showdown against UC San Diego on Saturday; a win would set up a potential rematch with Cal Poly and keep their hopes of a Sunday championship game alive.