Cal Poly Rolls Past Saint Mary’s in NCAA Los Angeles Regional

LOS ANGELES — Cal Poly baseball moved one win away from a regional title Saturday night, defeating Saint Mary’s 14-1 in the winner’s bracket game of the NCAA Los Angeles Regional at Jackie Robinson Stadium.

The Mustangs entered the matchup with momentum after opening the regional with a 6-2 win over Virginia Tech. Saint Mary’s came in with one of the biggest wins of the tournament after upsetting No. 1 overall seed UCLA 3-2 in its opener, but the Gaels could not carry that same magic into the matchup against Cal Poly.

Photo: Peter Zhan / Sideline Frames Media

For the first few innings, the game stayed close. Saint Mary’s tried to slow Cal Poly’s offense and keep the game within reach, but the Mustangs eventually broke through and turned the night into one of the most dominant performances of the regional.

Cal Poly took control with a big middle-inning surge. The Mustangs’ offense put together quality at-bats, moved runners and took advantage of Saint Mary’s mistakes. Once Cal Poly started scoring, the pressure quickly shifted onto the Gaels.

The game changed completely when Cal Poly built separation with a six-run fourth inning. What had been a tight matchup turned into a commanding lead, and the Mustangs kept adding on from there. Cal Poly scored again later in the game and continued to stretch the advantage until the result was no longer in doubt.

Photo: Peter Zhan / Sideline Frames Media

Saint Mary’s had entered the night as one of the main stories of the regional because of its upset win over UCLA. The Gaels had shown they could beat one of the top teams in the country, but Cal Poly prevented them from building another upset run. The Mustangs stayed aggressive, controlled the pace and did not let Saint Mary’s settle into the game.

Cal Poly’s pitching also helped keep the Gaels quiet. With a large lead behind them, the Mustangs were able to attack the strike zone and limit Saint Mary’s scoring chances. The Gaels managed only one run and could not create the same late-game pressure they had used against UCLA.

The 14-1 win pushed Cal Poly into the regional final and gave the Mustangs a major advantage in the double-elimination format. Instead of having to fight through an elimination game, Cal Poly earned a chance to wait for the winner of the Sunday matchup between Saint Mary’s and UCLA.

For Saint Mary’s, the loss set up a difficult path. The Gaels had to turn around and face UCLA again in an elimination game, with the winner advancing to meet Cal Poly later that day.

Photo: Peter Zhan / Sideline Frames Media

Even with the lopsided score, Saint Mary’s remained one of the most surprising teams in the Los Angeles Regional. Its opening win over UCLA had already changed the shape of the bracket. But on Saturday night, Cal Poly showed why it was capable of winning the regional.

The Mustangs were sharp at the plate, steady on the mound and composed in a high-pressure postseason setting. Their 14-run performance made a statement and put them in control of the regional heading into the final day.

For Cal Poly, the win was more than just another postseason victory. It was a dominant step toward the program’s first regional championship and a reminder that the Mustangs had arrived in Los Angeles ready to keep playing.