SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (Interstat) — Cal Poly scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to erase a two-run deficit and went on to defeat Long Beach State 8-3 on Saturday afternoon at Robin Baggett Stadium, completing a three-game sweep of the Big West series.

The Mustangs improved to 33-21 overall and maintained their push for a conference title, while the Dirtbags dropped to 17-35 on the season. Dylan Lina homered in the top of the first inning to give Long Beach State an early 3-0 lead, but Cal Poly’s offense answered in the bottom half with a run and then seized control in the fourth.

The pivotal inning began with a leadoff double by Austin Downing off Long Beach State starter Jason Gerfers. After a single by Joe Spiridonoff, a single by Nate Hoiland drove in Downing to cut the deficit to 3-2. A fielder’s choice erased Spiridonoff at third, but Lucas Castellon singled to left to score Hoiland and tie the game 3-3. A sacrifice bunt by Adrian Garza brought in Vachini for a 4-3 lead, and then an error by second baseman Nico Borgogno allowed Kordic to reach, keeping the inning alive. Jake Tayman singled to right to score Castellon, making it 5-3.

Gerfers, who entered with a 4.1-inning line of zero hits but six earned runs and five strikeouts, was lifted after the fourth. The Dirtbags never recovered. Cal Poly added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth on a single by Vachini that scored Spiridonoff and Hoiland, with an error on the play allowing Vachini to advance to second. That pushed the lead to 7-3.

Long Beach State managed only one hit after the fourth inning. Cooper Estes, Nick Bonn and Brady Estes combined for six scoreless innings of relief for the Mustangs, with Estes striking out three over two perfect frames and Bonn allowing just one hit over two innings. Troy Cooper also threw two scoreless innings earlier. For Long Beach State, Joey Iglesias pitched 1.2 scoreless innings with one strikeout, and Cristien Banda added 0.2 scoreless innings.

The Dirtbags struck first in the top of the first when Lina homered to left field for a 1-0 lead. They added two more in the third on an RBI single by Turner and an RBI single by Smaka, chasing Cal Poly starter Josh Volmerding after three innings. Volmerding allowed three earned runs on six hits while striking out five. Lina finished 2 for 5 with a home run and an RBI.

In the bottom of the eighth, Cal Poly added its final run. Tayman doubled and scored on a single by Downing, making it 8-3. Long Beach State went down in order in the ninth.

The game marked the Dirtbags’ ninth consecutive loss overall, following sweeps by Oregon State and UC San Diego earlier in May. Cal Poly has won four straight and holds a 72.50 percent win probability per Interstat’s ELO system for this contest. The game simulator projected a 7-4 victory for the Mustangs.