The Columbia baseball team will play its first games in the state of California since 2016 when they travel to Cal Poly for a four-game set this weekend. The series begins with a single game Friday, doubleheader Saturday and the finale on Sunday. Friday and Sunday's games will be streamed live for free on BigWest.TV. All but Saturday's nightcap will have a live audio feed. Links are available on the right of the page.
 

LEADING OFF

COLUMBIA'S STATUS
The Lions were swept by Oklahoma during a four-game stretch in Norman last weekend to begin 2019. The Sooners scored in the bottom of the first in each of the games.

CAL POLY'S STATUS
The Mustangs dropped three games at Washington last weekend. Like the Lions, Cal Poly began its season at Oklahoma, falling to the Sooners all three times.

Bradlee Beesley is hitting .356 with four doubles and 10 RBI. The Mustangs have not hit a home run this season through 11 games.

Dylan Villalobos has appeared in six games out of the bullpen, posting a 1-2 record with a save, 0.73 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 12.1 innings. 

INSIDE THE SERIES
Columbia and Cal Poly previously met for a five-game series in San Luis Obispo during the 2001 campaign. The Mustangs won each contest, but three were decided by one run.

COLUMBIA AGAINST THE BIG WEST
The Lions are 2-20 against teams currently in the Big West. Columbia's wins came over Cal State Northridge in 2009 and Long Beach State in 2016.

NEWS/NOTES

COMEBACK KIDS
Senior pitchers Josh Simpson and Ethan Abrams made their first appearances back since the 2017 season. Both missed last year due to injury. Simpson got the opening day nod at Oklahoma, while Abrams threw an inning of relief in game three against the Sooners.

HEY JULES
Junior Julian Bury gained a spot on the Ivy League Weekly Honor Roll after hitting .429 (6-for-14) with two doubles and two RBI at Oklahoma. Bury was also appearing in his first games since the 2018 ILCS after suffering an injury during practice that forced him to miss the NCAA Gainesville Regional. Bury was the 2017 Ivy League Rookie of the Year.