Van Gansen gets hot at the plate, helps Mustangs clinch series

Peter Van Gansen triples to drive home Cal Poly’s first run on Friday night. By Owen Main

Peter Van Gansen was feeling it tonight. Hitting only .262 coming into the game, the sophomore shortstop collected three hits, two RBIs, and scored a run as Cal Poly won a 13-inning marathon on Friday night to clinch the series agaisnt Cal State Fullerton.

Slater Lee started the game against Fullerton ace Thomas Eshelman. Eshelmen went seven strong innings, striking out four and only giving up two runs. Lee, on the other hand, only got through four innings. His first pitch was driven deep over the left field wall by Matt Chapman and Cal Poly was playing catch-up from there.

Lee settled a little, but only got through four innings before giving way to Bryan Granger. Granger, Taylor Chris, and Reed Reilly combined to hold the Titans scoreless for the final nine innings.

Cal Poly was down 3-2 in the bottom of the eighth when Fullerton brought in Phil Bickford. Bickford, the number 10 overall pick by the Blue Jays last season, gave up singles to Zack Zehner and Brett Barbier before Van Gansen’s clutch, two-out single drove Zehner home.

JD Scroggin from the SLO Tribune captured the moment on video:

After Cal Poly threatened to win the game in multiple innings, Nick Torres finally drove in the game-winner in the 13th. Torres had a double and a triple in the game.

Here’s a video of how it looked from the stands.

Van Gansen and second baseman Mark Mathias each managed four hits in the games for the Mustangs, who now stand at an impressive 35-5 on the year, 30 games over .500.

Cal Poly baseball is becoming a must-see for San Luis Obispo sports fans, and there are only four more home games during the regular season. The Mustangs will bid to host a regional as well. If the team keeps playing like this, their chances of being awarded a regional will continue to go up.

“@dejeurno:How low are the chances of baggett stadium hosting a regional?" We will be submitting a bid,decent chance, team doing their part!

— Don Oberhelman (@TheMustangWay) April 15, 2014

Cal Poly goes for the sweep today at 1:00 pm. Starter Casey Bloomquist is 8-0 with a 1.58 ERA.