Mustangs sweep UC Riverside in final home series of 2015

Things looked a little different in Taylor Chris’ final visit to the Baggett Stadium mound of 2015. By Owen Main

A little less than a year later, Taylor Chris came off the mound once again.

On June 2, 2014, Taylor Chris pitched 6.1 innings in relief and held Pepperdine in-check. His gutsy performance had kept the Mustangs in the game. As he treaded off the mound, head down,

On Sunday afternoon, the crowd cheered just as proudly, though the look on Chris’ face was the opposite. A year ago, Chris pitched in relief of starter Danny Zandona. On this day, Chris came off the mound after an inning and a third, giving way to fellow senior Zandona on senior day. Zandona recorded the final two outs and the Mustangs recorded their 13th conference win and 13th home victory in their final 15 home games.

The final was 11-1.

Jarred Zill started the game and pitched very well for Cal Poly, giving up just one run and four hits in seven innings. Zill has made seven starts this season and is now 4-1 this season. Only Zill and Casey Bloomquist have pitching records above .500 this season. Zill also dropped his ERA to 3.03.

The Mustangs were 10-18 a few weeks before Big West play started and moved one game over .500 for the first time this season. With a series win over UC Davis on the road next weekend, Cal Poly will secure their 10th winning season in Larry Lee’s 13 years at the helm.

While there were lots of popular and talented faces who left Cal Poly after last season, this year’s senior class also played a big role in the team’s first ever hosted regional and the best two-year run in team history.

While the Mustangs don’t have a shot at winning the Big West title or making a regional appearance this season, they were just a few games — and probably really a few innings — away from being in real contention for the conference title. UC Davis, Cal Poly’s opponent next weekend, is 7-14 in Big West play and it’s likely Cal Poly will finish third or fourth in the Big West this season.

This season hasn’t been what some fans expected. If not for the bad start they had, the Mustangs could be in the running for a regional appearance. Cal Poly has four one-run losses in Big West play. As I write this, Cal Poly is 2 1/2 games back in the conference standings. If this is what a “bad” season at Baggett Stadium has become, sign this fan up for the ride.

Photos by Owen Main