SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (Interstat) — Carson Turnquist fired six innings of two-hit ball and Cal Poly’s offense broke open a tie game with a four-run third inning as the Mustangs beat Long Beach State 6-2 on Friday night at Robin Baggett Stadium.

Turnquist struck out nine and allowed one earned run, improving his record after a rough outing the previous week. The Mustangs improved to 32-21 overall and 17-12 in the Big West, while the Dirtbags dropped to 17-34 and 7-22.

Cal Poly collected 12 hits to Long Beach State’s three. Conner Stewart provided the Dirtbags’ only extra-base hit with a solo home run in the sixth inning. Ryan Tayman led the Mustangs with three hits, including a double, and drove in a run. Cam Hoiland doubled twice and knocked in a run.

The Mustangs trailed 2-0 after the top of the first inning. Long Beach State had taken an early lead without the benefit of a hit, capitalizing on a pair of Cal Poly errors. But the Mustangs answered immediately in the bottom half. Dylan Kordic doubled to left-center, scoring Garza, and Tayman singled up the middle to bring home Kordic and tie the game 2-2.

Cal Poly seized control in the third inning. Tayman singled to shallow left, and Casey Murray Jr. tripled down the left-field line to score him. After a fielder’s choice cut down Casey at the plate, Hoiland doubled to left-center to plate Spiridonoff. Dante Vachini followed with an RBI single through the right side, scoring Hoiland to make it 6-2. That rally chased Long Beach State starter Luke Howe, who was charged with six earned runs in three innings despite not allowing a hit. Howe walked five batters and hit one, and the Dirtbags defense committed two errors.

Long Beach State reliever Jaxon Baker was brilliant in relief, tossing five no-hit innings with five strikeouts and no walks. But the Dirtbags could not mount a comeback against Turnquist and closer Chris Downs. Turnquist worked around a hit and a hit batter in the fourth, then retired nine of the last 10 batters he faced. Downs earned a three-inning save, allowing one hit and striking out two.

Stewart’s home run in the sixth pulled Long Beach State within 6-2, but Downs retired the final eight Dirtbags hitters after that. Long Beach State left five runners on base and struck out 13 times.

The pivotal bottom of the third inning turned a 2-2 stalemate into a 4-run Cal Poly lead that the Dirtbags never threatened. The Mustangs sent nine men to the plate and collected four hits, including three extra-base hits, while forcing Howe from the game.

Turnquist, who had allowed four earned runs in his previous start at Cal State Fullerton, rebounded with his best outing of the season. He threw 93 pitches, 65 for strikes, and induced 12 swinging strikes. The Mustangs’ pitching staff combined for 11 strikeouts and allowed only three hits.

The Dirtbags’ run support was limited to Stewart’s solo homer and an unearned run in the second inning. Long Beach State had won only four of its previous 12 games entering Friday.

The two teams meet again Saturday in the series finale. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Cal Poly 7, Long Beach State 4, and its ELO system gave the Mustangs a 72.50 percent probability to win.