Mustangs beat UCLA, earn highest national ranking since 2009

Freshman starting pitcher, Slater Lee, has been particularly dominant so far for Larry Lee’s team this season. By Owen Main

Cal Poly baseball is off to a great start. After sweeping Kansas State, the Mustangs took two of three games from UCLA over the weekend, improving their record to (6-1). With the series win, the Mustangs climbed to number 13 in both the Baseball America and Perfect Game rankings. Cal Poly was un-ranked in the preseason, but have moved up farther than any other team so far this year, scheduling two top-25 teams early-on and winning five of the six weekend games against them.

Especially impressive has been the start of freshman starting pitcher, Slater Lee. Lee pitched 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball in his college debut and followed it up with a complete-game shutout of the defending national champions this past Saturday. In all, Lee has given up just a single run in 15 1/3 innings, notching 14 strikeouts, and only two walks against high-level competition.

Cal Poly’s team ERA after seven games is an impressive 1.16. With that number, hitting wouldn’t matter much, but the Mustang bats have also been lively early-on. Sophomore Brian Mundell has already hit three home runs and junior Nick Torres has two homers and 12 RBIs. The two sport OPS numbers of 1.536 and 1.159 respectively.

Next week, Cal Poly plays at San Jose State and travels to Los Angeles once again to take on upstart USC, who is 7-0 and knocking on the door of being ranked in the top-25.

Again, it’s only been seven games, but it’s been a very impressive seven games for a team that won its first regional game just last year. The last time they were ranked this high, the 2009 Cal Poly baseball team made their first NCAA Division I regional appearance. This year, the Mustangs and fans are probably setting their sights a little higher and to a city in Nebraska that starts with an O.

Learn this name: Slater Lee. Freshman RHP threw 2-hit shutout at defending champ UCLA in 2nd college start. Cal Poly wins 8-0, evens series.

— Aaron Fitt (@aaronfitt) February 23, 2014

Potent offense, big key is improved starting pitching. RT @GoodPalCardo: @KendallRogersPG What is your opinion of Cal Poly baseball?

— Kendall Rogers (@KendallRogersPG) February 24, 2014

@brettjoh love torres – could go top 3-5 rounds. Mundell has legit power, of course, but need to see consistent ABs this year

— Aaron Fitt (@aaronfitt) February 23, 2014