Thursday, March 28
Fullerton, CA
6 P.M.
at
Cal State Fullerton
Photo by: Owen Main | Cal Poly Athletics
Mustangs Travel to Cal State Fullerton for Revised Road Series
3/27/2024 1:13:00 PM | Baseball
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — After a strong 4-2 start to the conference slate and subsequent series victory over No. 25 UC Santa Barbara, the Cal Poly baseball program will certainly be looking to extend its impressive run heading onto the road for the first time in 15 games and 32 days.
Due to the anticipation of inclement weather in the Fullerton area, the Mustangs and Titans will be playing a revised schedule on top of the already unorthodox Thursday-to-Saturday series that was originally set due to Easter Sunday.
The previously scheduled Thursday contest will remain the same with first pitch at 6:00 pm, but Friday will now be a doubleheader that replaces Saturday. Friday will consist of a first game at 4:00 pm and second game that takes place 45 minutes after the first ends, which makes the tentative start around 7:30 pm.
Cal Poly's bats have been red-hot lately after scoring at least five runs in the last seven games, including three double-digit affairs. Even against UCSB's pitching corps and future MLB-draftee Matt Ager, the Mustangs hit at a .286 clip with 7 extra-base knocks and 24 total runs.
Jake Steels continued pacing the team with a dominant .425 batting average that currently sits 31st in the country and 2nd in the Big West. Steels also leads the Mustangs having tallied 34 hits, 23 runs, 13 walks, and a 1.096 OPS.
With two more multi-hit games and a solid overall series against the Gauchos, Ryan Fenn extended his hitting streak with 17 games. Joe Yorke also collected 5 RBIs in the series to eclipse a new career milestone with his 151st RBI, approaching Cal Poly's program record: Steve Wood at 160.
The Mustang pitching staff remains consistent for the program in 2024. Coming into the week, Cal Poly ranked 9th in the nation with a 3.03 K/BB ratio as Steven Brooks led from the individual side, 8th in Division I with a 10.67 K/BB. Brooks is also 6th in Division I with 0.74 BB/9, having allowed a measly 3 walks in 6 starts and 32.1 innings pitched.
Jakob Wright, Griffin Naess, and Tanner Sagouspe can all be credited with contributing greatly to the 2-1 series victory over UCSB. Wright nearly reset his single-game career-high with 10 strikeouts in the 8-3 game one win, Naess picked up the win during Sunday's series clincher, and Sagouspe held opposing batters to a .167 average, allowing no runs and striking out 8 batters in 5.1 innings through two relief appearances.
Cal State Fullerton has played a challenging schedule in the first half of this season at a record of just 8-15. The Titans are looking to snap a losing streak dating back to their only conference win against UC San Diego on March 15. Since then, opposing bats have hit at least five runs against Fullerton pitchers in five-of-seven consecutive losses.
Even so, this will be Cal State Fullerton's Big West homecoming and the Titans still have decent numbers despite what the recent results may suggest. Leading hitter Eli Lopez (26 hits, .306 avg) heads a lineup that is currently averaging .245, which includes five batters that have tallied double-digit RBIs on the season.
On the pitching side, star reliever Seth Tomczak has not allowed a single run through 8 appearances, 11.1 innings, and 3 saves while holding opposing teams to a 0.97 WHIP and .179 batting average. Game one starter Mikiah Negrete is also one to watch, holding a 3-1 record with a 3.06 ERA.
Following Cal Poly's first conference road series of 2024, the Mustangs have a packed 5-game week with a pair of non-conference midweek contests at home against San Diego State before jumping right back on the road to UC Riverside.
Due to the anticipation of inclement weather in the Fullerton area, the Mustangs and Titans will be playing a revised schedule on top of the already unorthodox Thursday-to-Saturday series that was originally set due to Easter Sunday.
The previously scheduled Thursday contest will remain the same with first pitch at 6:00 pm, but Friday will now be a doubleheader that replaces Saturday. Friday will consist of a first game at 4:00 pm and second game that takes place 45 minutes after the first ends, which makes the tentative start around 7:30 pm.
Cal Poly's bats have been red-hot lately after scoring at least five runs in the last seven games, including three double-digit affairs. Even against UCSB's pitching corps and future MLB-draftee Matt Ager, the Mustangs hit at a .286 clip with 7 extra-base knocks and 24 total runs.
Jake Steels continued pacing the team with a dominant .425 batting average that currently sits 31st in the country and 2nd in the Big West. Steels also leads the Mustangs having tallied 34 hits, 23 runs, 13 walks, and a 1.096 OPS.
With two more multi-hit games and a solid overall series against the Gauchos, Ryan Fenn extended his hitting streak with 17 games. Joe Yorke also collected 5 RBIs in the series to eclipse a new career milestone with his 151st RBI, approaching Cal Poly's program record: Steve Wood at 160.
The Mustang pitching staff remains consistent for the program in 2024. Coming into the week, Cal Poly ranked 9th in the nation with a 3.03 K/BB ratio as Steven Brooks led from the individual side, 8th in Division I with a 10.67 K/BB. Brooks is also 6th in Division I with 0.74 BB/9, having allowed a measly 3 walks in 6 starts and 32.1 innings pitched.
Jakob Wright, Griffin Naess, and Tanner Sagouspe can all be credited with contributing greatly to the 2-1 series victory over UCSB. Wright nearly reset his single-game career-high with 10 strikeouts in the 8-3 game one win, Naess picked up the win during Sunday's series clincher, and Sagouspe held opposing batters to a .167 average, allowing no runs and striking out 8 batters in 5.1 innings through two relief appearances.
Cal State Fullerton has played a challenging schedule in the first half of this season at a record of just 8-15. The Titans are looking to snap a losing streak dating back to their only conference win against UC San Diego on March 15. Since then, opposing bats have hit at least five runs against Fullerton pitchers in five-of-seven consecutive losses.
Even so, this will be Cal State Fullerton's Big West homecoming and the Titans still have decent numbers despite what the recent results may suggest. Leading hitter Eli Lopez (26 hits, .306 avg) heads a lineup that is currently averaging .245, which includes five batters that have tallied double-digit RBIs on the season.
On the pitching side, star reliever Seth Tomczak has not allowed a single run through 8 appearances, 11.1 innings, and 3 saves while holding opposing teams to a 0.97 WHIP and .179 batting average. Game one starter Mikiah Negrete is also one to watch, holding a 3-1 record with a 3.06 ERA.
Following Cal Poly's first conference road series of 2024, the Mustangs have a packed 5-game week with a pair of non-conference midweek contests at home against San Diego State before jumping right back on the road to UC Riverside.
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