Naess carries Cal Poly to first-round win with Big West tournament shutout

Cal Poly spent most of the season proving it can win games at the plate. On Thursday, the Mustangs had to prove they could win without that dominance.

The Mustangs beat UC San Diego 1-0 in the Big West Championship tournament, with Nate Castellon driving in the game’s lone run on a second-inning infield hit. Cal Poly entered the tournament with the No. 1 lineup in the conference, but their usual offensive spark never fully arrived.

The Mustangs managed just three hits all night.

Instead, the game became a test of whether they could make one early run hold up.

Griffin Naess made sure it did.

Naess took the mound Thursday and carried Cal Poly through 7-2/3 scoreless innings, striking out 11 on 129 pitches.

On the other side, the Tritons’ Steele Murdock matched Naess nearly pitch for pitch, allowing one run on three hits over 8 innings. Murdock also struck out 11 on 134 pitches.

With the offense unable to produce at its usual level, the right-hander gave the Mustangs everything they needed to protect a one-run lead and advance in the winner’s bracket.

He kept UC San Diego off balance by mixing his changeup, curveball and fastball throughout the outing. The variety in his pitch selection made it difficult for the Tritons to settle in at the plate, allowing Naess to stay in control deep into the game.

Though Naess admitted just before the tournament that it hadn’t been his “greatest” season, Thursday proved he could deliver when Cal Poly needed him the most.

“Griffin was the best I’ve seen him in the three years he’s been here,” Head Coach Larry Lee said. “I just think the setting of tonight, he just took it to a completely different level.”

Naess allowed just two hits in a shutout performance that sent Cal Poly to game four of the tournament.

Bonn works out of ninth-inning trouble

The Tritons only had three real chances to score, first with runners on second and third with one out in the second inning and then with the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth.

Cal Poly was able to pitch their way out of trouble in both cases.

Then came the top of the ninth.

Nick Bonn had replaced Naess and inherited the task of protecting the one-run lead.

With one out and UC San Diego’s Raphael Dunne on first, Bonn attempted a pickoff throw to first. The throw sailed wide, sending Dunne all the way to third and putting the tying run 90 feet away.

A walk put another runner on first, giving the Tritons runners on the corners with one out.

But Bonn responded by striking out the next batter, bringing Cal Poly within one out of the win.

Then came one final threat.

Triton outfielder Nathaniel Widelski drove a deep ball into left-center field, carrying long enough to make the ending feel uncertain before Cal Poly’s Dante Vachini dashed into the gap and made the catch to close out the game.

“(Nick) was our best option, even late in the game,” Lee said. “We finally had to come in with Nick, and he did a great job.”

Blue-Green rivalry awaits

Up next for Cal Poly is No. 1-seeded UC Santa Barbara. The Gauchos opened tournament play Thursday afternoon with a 7-4 win over Cal State Fullerton behind Jackson Flora, who struck out nine across seven innings.

Flora has been the anchor of Santa Barbara’s pitching staff, but after throwing seven innings Thursday, the Gauchos will have to turn elsewhere against Cal Poly.

UCSB enters with one of the nation’s top pitching staffs, meaning Cal Poly’s offense will need to make contact and strive for the timely hits it lacked Thursday night if they want to stay anywhere near contention with the Gauchos.

Cal Poly will face UC Santa Barbara in a Blue-Green rivalry matchup Friday at 1 p.m. at Cicerone Field at Anteater Ballpark. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.

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