**Cal Poly Mustangs Dominate: A Stellar Victory Over Hawai’i and UC Irvine on Championship Eve**
**FULLERTON, Calif.** — In a thrilling exhibition of grit and skill, the Cal Poly Mustangs showcased their baseball prowess by clinching two monumental victories on Saturday. The team first edged out Hawai’i with a **narrow 2-1 win** before decisively defeating the top-seeded UC Irvine Anteaters **15-5** later that evening. With these stunning performances, Coach **[Larry Lee](https://gopoly.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/larry-lee/717)**’s squad is now eyeing the crown, set to compete in the Big West Conference Tournament championship and secure an **automatic qualifying spot** for next weekend’s NCAA Regionals.
### From Challengers to Champions: The Road Ahead
As anticipation builds, the Mustangs (40-17) will face off against UC Irvine (41-14) in a **winner-takes-all finale** on Sunday at 3:05 p.m. at Cal State Fullerton’s Goodwin Field. This decisive game promises to be a nail-biter, where both teams will leave it all on the field.
#### A Pitching Masterclass
**[Josh Morano](https://gopoly.com/sports/baseball/roster/josh-morano/10036)** delivered a standout performance in the opener against Hawai’i, throwing **6 1/3 innings**—his longest stint of the season. Morano (3-0) dazzled the crowd with **74 pitches**, allowing just five hits, one walk, and accumulating two strikeouts. Relief from **[Jake Torres](https://gopoly.com/sports/baseball/roster/jake-torres/9869)** in the ninth secured the victory, ending the game with precision after inducing crucial groundouts.
Hawai’i struck early, tallying a run in the first inning thanks to an RBI double by Ben Ziegler-Namoa. However, Cal Poly responded fiercely in the fourth. A combination of hits from **[Ryan Fenn](https://gopoly.com/sports/baseball/roster/ryan-fenn/9853)** and **[Alejandro Garza](https://gopoly.com/sports/baseball/roster/alejandro-garza/9854)** set the stage for a two-run spurt, showcasing their current **hitting streaks of 17 and 16 games**, respectively.
#### Offensive Firepower
In the nightcap against UC Irvine, **[Christopher Downs](https://gopoly.com/sports/baseball/roster/christopher-downs/10001)** took the mound and dazzled, throwing **117 pitches**, an impressive feat that resulted in a commanding win. Downs (6-0) pitched **6 1/3 innings**, yielding just two runs and three hits while claiming three strikeouts.
The Mustangs unleashed an offensive onslaught, featuring back-to-back rallies with **four runs in the third, fourth, and sixth innings**, followed by a decisive three-run eighth. **[Zach Daudet](https://gopoly.com/sports/baseball/roster/zach-daudet/9851)**, Fenn, and Garza all contributed to the scoring spree, demonstrating the depth and talent of Cal Poly’s lineup.
### Historical Context: A Season to Remember
This commanding performance marked a critical turning point for the Mustangs, with all nine starters recording at least one hit—an impressive feat achieved for the eighth time this season. Garza led the offensive charge, accumulating three **run-scoring singles** and inching closer to the record for multiple-hit games.
The Mustangs’ triumph was even more noteworthy as it marked a reversal of fortunes; UC Irvine had bested them in all four previous encounters this season.
### Looking Ahead: The Final Showdown
With the championship on the line, **[Ethan Marmie](https://gopoly.com/sports/baseball/roster/ethan-marmie/9861)** (4-3, 5.68 ERA) is set to take the mound for the Mustangs, while UC Irvine would counter with junior right-hander Finnegan Wall (0-0, 6.85 ERA).
The stakes couldn’t be higher as Coach **Larry Lee** chases his third 40-victory season, hoping to add another chapter to Cal Poly’s storied baseball history.
### NCAA Regional Pairings Ahead
As the excitement builds, NCAA regional pairings will be announced this Monday at **9 a.m. on ESPN2**. Stay tuned as the Cal Poly Mustangs aim to carve their name in the annals of college baseball history!
