Junior left fielder Cole Cabrera's second career walk-off hit, a two-out bases-loaded single down the left-field line in the 11th inning, lifted Cal Poly to a 2-1 victory over Baylor on Friday night inside Baggett Stadium.
Cabrera, who singled into the left-field corner against Columbia a year ago for his first walk-off hit, capped Cal Poly's comeback from a 1-0 deficit in the late innings.
The Mustangs were held scoreless on five hits through the first innings before breaking through for the tying run in the ninth on freshman shortstop Nick Marinconz' double down the left-field line off Baylor closer Luke Boyd and the winning run in the 11th off Ryan Leckich.
With its third walk-off win of the season, Cal Poly improves to 5-9. Baylor fell to 8-5.
Sophomore right-hander Bryan Woo (1-3) pitched five scoreless innings for the win, scattering three hits with no walks and five strikeouts. It was the third time Woo had pitched five innings in relief in a game in his Mustang career.
The loss went to Leckich (1-1).
Baylor scored its run in the fourth. After two fly balls to the outfield, consecutive singles by Kyle Nevin, Esteban Cardoza-Oquendo and Tre Richardson produced the run.
As it has done several times earlier this season, Cal Poly waited until the late innings to mount a comeback.
Senior catcher Myles Emmerson opened the ninth with a single up the middle. Taison Corio was hit by a pitch and Tate Samuelson's fly ball to center field was deep enough to allow Emmerson to advance to third. After a strikeout for the second out of the inning, Marinconz hit an 0-1 pitch down the left field line for a run-scoring double, tying the game at 1-1.
The Mustangs left runners at first and second in the 10th as Corio lined out to first base, then loaded the bases in the 11th on a single to center field by Samuelson and walks drawn by Marinconz and junior outfielder Scott Ogrin.
A comebacker by freshman right fielder Kyle Ashworth resulted in a force play at the plate for the second out, but Cabrera sent the Mustang fans home happy with his single down the left-field line on a 1-1 pitch.
Cal Poly's other walk-off wins this year were against Vanderbilt -- 9-8 on Samuelson's sacrifice fly in the ninth inning in the MLB4 Tournament at Scottsdale, Ariz., three weeks ago and Corio's bases-loaded single to center field in the 10th inning against Michigan last Saturday.
Emmerson lifted his average to .345 with two singles and a double while Cabrera and Samuelson each added two singles as Cal Poly outhit Baylor 10-9.
Center fielder Jared McKenzie, first baseman Chase Wehsener and designated hitter Davion Downey each had two hits for Baylor.
Mustang starter Taylor Dollard produced his fourth quality start of the season, allowing just one run and six hits over six innings with one walk and five strikeouts.
Baylor's Paul Dickens tossed seven scoreless frames, scattering four hits with one walk and nine strikeouts.
Second game of the series will be played Saturday at 4 p.m. with Cal Poly junior southpaw Andrew Alvarez (0-1, 2.16 ERA) to face Baylor freshman left-hander Evan Godwin (1-0, 4.40 ERA).
The series finale Sunday is set for a 1 o'clock first pitch.
-Provided by Cal Poly
