Needing a win to clinch the Big West title, the Cal Poly softball team (39-10, 18-3 Big West Conference) wasted little time grasping the championship with a decisive victory over UC Riverside on Saturday afternoon at Amy Harrison Field.
Sophomore Anna Cahn picked up her Cal Poly-record 27th win, facing just three batters over the minimum.
She also helped her own cause, driving in a career-high five runs including a three-run homer in the fourth inning.
Senior outfielder Jenna Maiden, one of five Mustangs playing in their regular season finales, drove in two runs while scoring three times.
Cal Poly got word on Sunday evening that they would be playing in the Stanford Regional. It’s first game will be against Nevada at 3 p.m. Friday. The Mustangs defeated the Wolfpack 1-0 on March 1.
In the regions other matchup, Stanford will host Portland State.
The Mustangs and Cardinal have competed twice this season with Stanford winning two one-run ballgames.
The regional will be contested in a double elimination format making it likely that the two teams will meet again.
This year marks the second postseason appearance for Cal Poly, who dropped games to BYU and Southern Utah after winning the Big West championship in 2007.