Mustangs Drop Tight Series Finale 5-4 to Washington State

Monday, February 23

San Luis Obispo, CA

5:05 PM

4-3

Washington State

3-4

Washington State

Cal Poly

Photo by: Owen Main | Cal Poly Athletics

Mustangs Drop Tight Series Finale 5-4 to Washington State

2/23/2026 11:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Washington State battled back from losses in the first two games, finishing with a 2-2 split of its four-game non-conference baseball series at Cal Poly with a come-from-behind 5-4 victory Monday night.

Coupled with Sunday's 8-3 triumph, the visiting Cougars left San Luis Obispo with a 3-4 overall mark. Cal Poly, which led only once in Monday's game at 4-3 on a run-scoring wild pitch in the seventh inning, fell to 4-3.

The game was tied at 1-1 and 3-3 before Coach Larry Lee's Mustangs inched ahead 4-3 in the seventh. Dante Vachini doubled down the right-field line, moved to third on a Cougar fielding error and came home on the wild pitch.

Washington State tied the game in the eighth on Luke Thiele's run-scoring double into the left-field corner and edged ahead 5-4 in the ninth as Trevor Smith doubled with one out, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Max Hartman's grounder to shortstop.

Mustang shortstop Nate Castellon singled leading off the bottom of the ninth, his third hit of the game, but a grounder to third and two fly balls to right field ended Cal Poly's comeback bid.

Washington State, coached by former Cal Poly pitcher Nathan Choate, used eight pitchers in the game, Trevor Stowe (1-0) securing two outs for the win and Scott Rienguette pitching a scoreless ninth inning for his first save.

The loss was charged to Cal Poly reliever Nick Bonn (0-1) as the Dallas Baptist transfer allowed the two late runs in a two-inning stint on the mound. Carson Turnquist started the game for Cal Poly and went four innings, giving up just one run and two hits with two walks and four strikeouts.

Hits were even at nine apiece.

Castellon lifted his average to .300 with his three singles while freshman second baseman Gavin Spiridonoff smashed his first home run as a Mustang, a solo shot to left field leading off the fifth inning.

Washington State's nine hits included two each off the bats of Smith, Thiele and Kyler Northrop.

Cal Poly will spend the next two days getting ready for another baseball team with Pac-12 ties as former member USC brings its perfect 7-0 mark to Baggett Stadium for a four-game weekend series. Game times are 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.