Cal Poly Baseball Dominates in Home Opener

Mustangs defeat Washington State 9-0 behind stellar pitching and explosive offense

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Cal Poly Baseball's home opener on Friday was a display of dominant pitching and an explosive offense, as the Mustangs defeated the Washington State Cougars 9-0. Starting pitcher Griffin Naess delivered the best performance of his collegiate career, striking out a career-high 14 batters over seven scoreless innings. The Mustangs' offense also shined, tallying 13 hits and scoring nine runs to give Naess an early cushion.

Why it matters

This game highlights the Mustangs' potential to be one of the best offensive teams in the country, pairing their aggressive small-ball tactics with a lineup that consistently puts the ball in play and displays power. The combination makes them a formidable opponent for any team they face this season.

The details

Naess was dominant on the mound, allowing just one hit and three baserunners total. The Mustangs' offense struck for four runs in the first inning and two more in the second, with four players recording multi-hit games. The team was aggressive on the basepaths, implementing hit-and-runs and taking extra bases to keep the Cougars' defense off balance.

  • The game was Cal Poly's home opener on Friday, February 21, 2026.

The players

Griffin Naess

Cal Poly starting pitcher who delivered a career-best performance, striking out 14 batters over seven scoreless innings.

Dante Vachini

Cal Poly leadoff hitter who went 2-for-5 at the plate.

Nate Castellon

Cal Poly hitter who went 3-for-4 at the plate.

Alejandro Garza

Cal Poly hitter who went 2-for-5 and discussed the team's offensive identity.

Braxton Thomas

Cal Poly first baseman who went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

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What they’re saying

“[I was] just getting ahead and then just being patient for the strikeout. My pitching coach does a good analysis of the other team, and we had our meeting today. And it just worked out.”

— Griffin Naess (mustangnews.net)

“It's really special here, especially Friday nights. I've had multiple new guys that just transferred in here, and they're just like, this is the most fun I've ever had playing baseball.”

— Griffin Naess (mustangnews.net)

“That's part of our game. We hit and run, we drag, we push, we do a lot of stuff, little, small ball stuff, to have teams panic and make sure they play catch.”

— Alejandro Garza (mustangnews.net)

“I think hands down, we're one of the best [offenses] in the country. For us not to be one-dimensional really makes us that much more valuable … they've got to not only defend us hitting-wise, but they also have to defend the small ball, and that's what makes us one of the better teams in the country.”

— Alejandro Garza (mustangnews.net)

What’s next

Cal Poly will continue their four-game series against Washington State, with the next game scheduled for Saturday, February 22, 2026 at 3:05 p.m.

The takeaway

Cal Poly's dominant performance in their home opener showcases their potential to be one of the most well-rounded and dangerous offensive teams in the country this season, blending an aggressive small-ball approach with a lineup that can consistently produce runs.