Cal Poly returns to NCAA Regionals in Eugene as No. 3 seed

After clinching its first-ever Big West Tournament title with back-to-back wins over UC Irvine, Cal Poly is headed to the NCAA Regionals for the first time since 2014.

The Mustangs will compete in the Eugene Regional, hosted by No. 1 seed Oregon. Cal Poly enters as the No. 3 seed and is set to face Big 12 champion and No. 2 seed Arizona in their opening matchup. No. 4 seed Utah Valley rounds out the bracket and will take on the Ducks.

The NCAA Tournament features 16 regional sites, each with a four-team, double-elimination format. The Eugene Regional will run from Friday to Monday, with specific game times still to be determined.

With the double-elimination format, Cal Poly will once again rely on its pitching depth to stay competitive.

The Mustangs didn’t allow a single earned run in the Big West championship game. All four of UC Irvine’s runs came after a two-out error and a costly three-run homer. Their ability to limit damage on the mound was key, and they will need the same dominance and fewer miscues to advance.

Arizona enters the regional riding a five-game winning streak and coming off a dominant run through the Big 12 Tournament. The Wildcats entered the Big 12 tournament as the No. 4 seed, where they won all three games to claim the conference crown, taking down No. 12 BYU, No. 1 West Virginia and No. 3 TCU.

This will be the first meeting between Cal Poly and Arizona in over a decade, adding a layer of unpredictability to an already intriguing first-round matchup.

Arizona made the NCAA Regionals last season but was eliminated quickly after two straight losses.

The last time Cal Poly made the NCAA postseason, they hosted a regional at Baggett Stadium in San Luis Obispo but was eliminated after two losses to Pepperdine. This year, the Mustangs return with momentum and a shot to make a deeper run under Head Coach Larry Lee.

Games will be televised on ESPN+.