Tuesday, March 5
San Luis Obispo, Calif.
5 P.M.
vs
Pepperdine
Photo by: Owen Main | Cal Poly Athletics
Cal Poly Hosts Pepperdine for First Leg of Home-and-Home
3/4/2024 4:30:00 PM | Baseball
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Following three of their four opponents being power-five conference members, the Mustangs continue their almost month-long home stint with a midweek matchup against Pepperdine before hosting yet another power-five squad as Ohio State travels to San Luis Obispo for a weekend series.
The lone midweek contest against Pepperdine takes place Tuesday, Mar. 5 at 5:00 p.m., and it will be broadcast on ESPN+ on top of ESPN Radio 1280. As always, stay tuned to GoPoly.com and follow us on social media for the latest updates on games.
For the second year in a row, Cal Poly managed to steal a win from Pac-12 opponent Utah last weekend. Despite some hitting and bullpen troubles in the 12-2 game one loss, the Mustangs steadied and found solid footing through the rest of the series.
The first leg of Sunday's doubleheader was a marked improvement from the previous day as Steven Brooks entered into a pitcher's duel with Utah's Kai Roberts. Brooks retired his first ten batters faced while managing to hold the Utes to just one hit all the way into the eighth inning before the opposition broke through with four runs to secure a tight win despite pairs of hits from both Jake Steels and Ryan Stafford.
On Sunday, the tides turned and Cal Poly moved to 12-6 in the all-time series record against Utah with a statement-making 4-3 walk-off victory. The very thing that had been holding the Mustangs back, converting RISP into runs, ended up making the difference as Cal Poly's batter drove in RBIs when it mattered most.
Joe Yorke (.200 avg, 7 RBI) has experienced an unusually slow start to the season but found a spark in the final game against Utah that is sure to help his stride heading into the final non-conference series before the Big West slate kicks off. Yorke went 2-for-5 while converting both the opening and game-winning RBIs during the narrow win.
On the pitching end of things, Christopher Downs will be opening the midweek game searching for better results than in his initial start to the season. Meanwhile, the bullpen will be hoping to continue its recent success as the Mustangs lean on Tanner Sagouspe (2-0, 2.16 ERA) and Jake Torres (12.0 IP, 12 SO) to alleviate the staff dipping further into its reserve of relievers.
Turning to the upcoming midweek game against Pepperdine, the Mustangs play the Waves in a home-and-home series split between Tuesday and a later matchup on May 14 in Malibu, CA. Pepperdine (3-9) have also begun the season cold and are currently coming off a 1-2 series result against Big West foe UC Riverside.
One of the most historically successful mid-major programs in college baseball history, the Waves are currently looking for their first season with a winning record since the COVID-shutdown of 2020. Although operating a decently consistent and successful lineup thus far through the season - at a team batting avg. of .266 - Pepperdine is allowing over 10 runs per nine innings, on average to go with a team ERA of 9.69.
Both Cal Poly and Pepperdine, mid-major teams with pedigree and something to prove, will battle it out in what is sure to be an exciting game between two squads looking to get on the winning end of things in 2024. Despite the opponents trying to right their respective ships, the all-time series has always been close with Cal Poly narrowly trailing at a record of 31-41. Likewise, the home-and-home series is a longstanding tradition between Cal Poly and Pepperdine. Last season, Pepperdine took both games in close fashion, but the Mustangs swept the series handedly in 2022.
Following the midweek game, Cal Poly hosts the Big-10's Ohio State for a four-day, four-game series at Baggett Stadium from Mar. 8-11.
The lone midweek contest against Pepperdine takes place Tuesday, Mar. 5 at 5:00 p.m., and it will be broadcast on ESPN+ on top of ESPN Radio 1280. As always, stay tuned to GoPoly.com and follow us on social media for the latest updates on games.
For the second year in a row, Cal Poly managed to steal a win from Pac-12 opponent Utah last weekend. Despite some hitting and bullpen troubles in the 12-2 game one loss, the Mustangs steadied and found solid footing through the rest of the series.
The first leg of Sunday's doubleheader was a marked improvement from the previous day as Steven Brooks entered into a pitcher's duel with Utah's Kai Roberts. Brooks retired his first ten batters faced while managing to hold the Utes to just one hit all the way into the eighth inning before the opposition broke through with four runs to secure a tight win despite pairs of hits from both Jake Steels and Ryan Stafford.
On Sunday, the tides turned and Cal Poly moved to 12-6 in the all-time series record against Utah with a statement-making 4-3 walk-off victory. The very thing that had been holding the Mustangs back, converting RISP into runs, ended up making the difference as Cal Poly's batter drove in RBIs when it mattered most.
Joe Yorke (.200 avg, 7 RBI) has experienced an unusually slow start to the season but found a spark in the final game against Utah that is sure to help his stride heading into the final non-conference series before the Big West slate kicks off. Yorke went 2-for-5 while converting both the opening and game-winning RBIs during the narrow win.
On the pitching end of things, Christopher Downs will be opening the midweek game searching for better results than in his initial start to the season. Meanwhile, the bullpen will be hoping to continue its recent success as the Mustangs lean on Tanner Sagouspe (2-0, 2.16 ERA) and Jake Torres (12.0 IP, 12 SO) to alleviate the staff dipping further into its reserve of relievers.
Turning to the upcoming midweek game against Pepperdine, the Mustangs play the Waves in a home-and-home series split between Tuesday and a later matchup on May 14 in Malibu, CA. Pepperdine (3-9) have also begun the season cold and are currently coming off a 1-2 series result against Big West foe UC Riverside.
One of the most historically successful mid-major programs in college baseball history, the Waves are currently looking for their first season with a winning record since the COVID-shutdown of 2020. Although operating a decently consistent and successful lineup thus far through the season - at a team batting avg. of .266 - Pepperdine is allowing over 10 runs per nine innings, on average to go with a team ERA of 9.69.
Both Cal Poly and Pepperdine, mid-major teams with pedigree and something to prove, will battle it out in what is sure to be an exciting game between two squads looking to get on the winning end of things in 2024. Despite the opponents trying to right their respective ships, the all-time series has always been close with Cal Poly narrowly trailing at a record of 31-41. Likewise, the home-and-home series is a longstanding tradition between Cal Poly and Pepperdine. Last season, Pepperdine took both games in close fashion, but the Mustangs swept the series handedly in 2022.
Following the midweek game, Cal Poly hosts the Big-10's Ohio State for a four-day, four-game series at Baggett Stadium from Mar. 8-11.
Players Mentioned
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