IRVINE, Calif. (Interstat) — The Cal Poly Mustangs and UC San Diego Tritons meet Saturday in the Big West Baseball Championship, a matchup of two teams heading in opposite directions.

The Mustangs (35-21) are the higher seed and enter the tournament with a strong resume. The Tritons (25-27) are aiming to extend their season with an upset.

Cal Poly will send right-hander Carson Turnquist to the mound. In his last start Friday, a 4-2 win at UC Santa Barbara, Turnquist pitched 6.0 innings, allowing 0 hits and 2 earned runs while striking out 7. Over his last four starts, all wins, he has 7.1 strikeouts per game and allowed just one earned run in three separate outings.

UC San Diego counters with Niccolas Gregson. Gregson also pitched Friday, tossing 7.0 innings of 0-hit ball with 4 strikeouts in a 5-1 win at Cal State Fullerton. However, Gregson’s recent form has been uneven. He has allowed four earned runs in two of his last four appearances, including a 4.1-inning outing May 9 in a loss to Cal State Bakersfield.

The teams split their regular-season series, with Cal Poly winning two of three in San Luis Obispo in April before UCSD took a 1-0 decision Thursday in a tournament pool-play game. Cal Poly won the series opener 11-3 on April 17, but UC San Diego stormed back for a 16-15 victory on April 19.

Cal Poly is coming off a 4-2 win over UC Santa Barbara on Friday. In addition to Turnquist’s start, pitchers Brady Estes and Nick Bonn combined for 3.0 scoreless innings. UC San Diego defeated Cal State Fullerton 5-1 on Friday, with Gregson, Devon King and Gabe Camacho leading the way.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a high-scoring affair, forecasting an 8-7 win for Cal Poly.

First pitch is scheduled for Saturday at Irvine, Calif. The weather forecast was not immediately available. The winner advances in the double-elimination tournament.