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Postgame Press Conference
LOS ANGELES -- For the first time since 2018, a Big West team is going to the super regional round of the NCAA Baseball Championship. Cal Poly defeated Saint Mary’s by a final score of 5-2 in the regional final of the 2026 NCAA Championship Los Angeles regional to advance out of the opening weekend of the national tournament for the first time in program history.
The Mustangs improve to 39-22 overall and will face the winner of the Morgantown regional between No. 16 national seed West Virginia and Kentucky in the super regional round. The last time a Big West team made the super-regional round was in 2018 when Cal State Fullerton fell to Washington in 20 innings in the rubber match to go to Omaha. Next weekend will be the maiden voyage to super regionals for the Cal Poly program, its first time at this stage of the postseason in five NCAA appearances.
The Gaels finish their season with a 36-27 overall record and the West Coast Conference Championship.
The Mustangs got a quality start from their starting pitcher once again as
Josh Volmerding (1-1) threw 6.0 frames of two run ball, collecting seven strikeouts in the process. All three Cal Poly starters in the regional went at least six innings and gave up two runs or fewer. Reliever
Corden Pettey threw an inning of shutout and closer
Nick Bonn earned a 17th save on the season retiring five batters in order.
Cal Poly center fielder
Casey Murray Jr. went 2-for-3 with two runs. Third baseman
Alejandro Garza collected two hits.
Saint Mary’s got off to an early 2-0 lead, scoring one run each in the second and third inning.
The Mustangs scored their first run of the game in the top of the fifth as Nate Castellon hit an RBI single to bring home Murray Jr.
Cal Poly tied the game and took the lead in the next inning. Ryan Tayman hit a solo bomb to left field to even the score at 2-2. Four batters later, Gavin Spiridonoff hit a three-run shot over the left field wall for a 5-2 Mustang advantage.
The Gaels were retired in order in the bottom of the sixth and seventh frames, and had their best chance to score in the eighth. With two Saint Mary’s runners on first and second base and no outs, Bonn, the Cal Poly closer, came in and did not allow a run. The three outs came via a fly ball and double play. The Gaels went three up, three down in the ninth as the Mustangs earned their first trip to super regionals.