Cal Poly Baseball Bounces Back with Midweek Win Over San Jose State

Mustangs use big innings to power 11-4 victory, look to carry momentum into series against top-ranked Oregon State

Apr. 8, 2026 at 10:22pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a college baseball game, with the players and field broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of vibrant navy blue, gold, red, and white colors.A cubist interpretation of the on-field action as Cal Poly Baseball battles San Jose State, showcasing the dynamic energy and competitive spirit of the midweek matchup.Santa Barbara Today

Cal Poly Baseball secured a crucial 11-4 win over San Jose State on April 7, bouncing back from a tough weekend series against UC Santa Barbara. The Mustangs used a strong offensive performance, with every starter collecting at least one hit, to power past the Spartans. Pitcher Sean McGrath delivered a solid outing, shutting out San Jose State through five innings. The win comes as Cal Poly prepares to face No. 7 Oregon State in a key upcoming series.

Why it matters

This midweek victory was an important confidence boost for Cal Poly as they head into a challenging series against a top-ranked Oregon State team. After struggling to generate offense last weekend, the Mustangs' ability to rebound and put together a dominant performance against San Jose State demonstrates their resilience and ability to make adjustments.

The details

Cal Poly used big innings in the first and third to power their 11-4 win over San Jose State. The Mustangs collected 16 hits, surpassing their total from the entire UC Santa Barbara series. Alejandro Garza led the way with a 4-for-5 night, and Gavin Spiridonoff hit his second career home run. On the mound, starter Sean McGrath shut out the Spartans through five innings, and the bullpen combination of Josh Morano, Troy Cooper, Chris Downs, and Arlo Pendleton closed out the game.

  • The game was played on April 7, 2026.
  • Cal Poly's series against No. 7 Oregon State is scheduled for April 10-12, 2026.

The players

Alejandro Garza

A Cal Poly player who went 4-for-5 at the plate in the win over San Jose State.

Gavin Spiridonoff

A Cal Poly player who hit his second career home run in the game.

Sean McGrath

The Cal Poly starting pitcher who shut out San Jose State through five innings.

Josh Morano

A Cal Poly relief pitcher who contributed to the team's victory.

Troy Cooper

A Cal Poly relief pitcher who contributed to the team's victory.

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What they’re saying

“We had two days off and we really worked as a team to just get back to what we know best and that's grinding out at bats. We felt like we got out of the plan this last weekend so we had to dial it back in.”

— Alejandro Garza, Cal Poly Player

What’s next

Cal Poly will look to carry the momentum from their midweek win into their upcoming series against No. 7 Oregon State, scheduled for April 10-12, 2026.

The takeaway

This victory was a crucial bounce-back performance for Cal Poly, demonstrating their ability to make adjustments and regain their offensive rhythm after a tough series. As they prepare to face a top-ranked Oregon State team, the Mustangs will need to maintain this level of play to have a chance at pulling off an upset.