21-16, 12-5
UC San Diego
15-19, 11-6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cal Poly | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 13 | 1 |
| UC San Diego | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 1 |
Turnquist K's 11 Tritons as Mustangs Capture Series-Winning Game Two
4/18/2026 10:00:00 PM | Baseball
LA JOLLA, Calif. — Carson Turnquist did not allow an earned run over five innings and struck out 11, Alejandro Garza produced another three-hit game and knocked in two runs and Jake Downing doubled three times in a 4-for-4 day at the plate as Cal Poly defeated UC San Diego 5-3 on Saturday afternoon at Triton Ballpark.
The victory propelled Coach Larry Lee's Mustangs into sole possession of first place in the Big West standings as UC Santa Barbara fell at UC Irvine 6-3. Cal Poly is 21-16 overall and 12-5 in conference contests, one game ahead of the Tritons and UC Santa Barbara (both 11-6 Big West).
Turnquist's strikeout total exceeded his previous career high of eight set at UC Riverside four weeks ago. He walked just one and scattered three hits over five innings, throwing 99 pitches, as the Paso Robles High School graduate improved his record to 3-2 on the year.
Chris Downs (one inning) and Josh Morano (1 1/3 innings) both allowed a run and Nick Bonn secured the final five outs without giving up a run to earn his ninth save.
Garza went 3-for-5 with a double and knocked in a run with a groundout in the second inning and a single to left field in the sixth. It was Garza's seventh multiple-hit game in his last nine starts and 12th in 18, giving him a team-leading 19 for the season.
Garza's average has climbed 100 points to .369 over the last six weeks (22 games).
Downing became the 17th Mustang in 32 Division I seasons to double three times in a single game -- one shy of the record four set by Collin Villegas at Cal State Bakersfield in April 2023 -- with two-baggers in the second, fourth and sixth innings.
Hitting in the ninth spot in the batting order, Downing scored twice Saturday and, with three singles and a pair of RBIs in Friday's 11-3 triumph, is 7-for-9 in the series after his fourth game of three or more hits in the last four weeks.
Downing has gone 20-for-51 (.392) since and including the UC Riverside series four weeks ago to lift his average 111 points to .261. He did not have a three-hit game in his first 22 contests this season but has four in his last 13 starts.
Ryan Tayman added two hits, Cam Hoiland singled up the middle to knock in the first run of the game in the opening frame and a sacrifice fly by Braxton Thomas drove in the second run of the inning.
It was 3-1 on Garza's RBI grounder to third base in the second inning and Cal Poly stretched the advantage to 4-1 on Nate Castellon's single and UCSD throwing error in the fourth and 5-1 on Garza's run-scoring single to left field in the sixth.
UC San Diego trimmed the deficit to 5-3 with single runs in the sixth and eighth frames before the Mustang bullpen closed out the contest.
The Tritons' seven hits included two hits each by Gabe Camacho and JC Allen. The loss was charged to UCSD starter Trevor Rector (0-2) as the right-hander surrendered three runs on five hits in two innings.
Cal Poly's four pitchers combined to strike out 14 Triton batters. The Mustangs lead the all-time series against UCSD, 10-8. Cal Poly amassed double-digit hits for the fifth straight game. UCSD had a baserunner in each of the first 12 innings of the series before Turnquist retired the side in order in the fourth frame Saturday.
Final game of the series will be played Sunday at 1:05 p.m. at Triton Ballpark. Cal Poly freshman right-hander Corden Pettey (2-2, 4.39 ERA) will face UC San Diego graduate right-hander Nic Gregson (0-7, 6.02 ERA).
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Turnquist, Carson (3-2)
L: Rector, Trevor (0-2)
S: Bonn, Nick (9)
Batting:
2B: Garza, Alejandro 1 ; Downing, Jake 3
RBI: Garza, Alejandro 2 ; Hoiland, Cam 1 ; Thomas, Braxton 1
SF: Thomas, Braxton 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Garza, Alejandro 1 ; Hoiland, Cam 1 ; Castro, Antonio 1 ; Downing, Jake 2
CS: Murray Jr., Casey 1
Batting:
2B: Camacho, Gabe 1
RBI: Camacho, Gabe 1 ; Martinez, Trevian 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Crossland, Michael 2 ; Camacho, Gabe 1
SB: Lanier, Delshaun 2
CS: Crossland, Michael 1
HBP: Crossland, Michael 1 ; Lanier, Delshaun 1
