Cal Poly SLO Scores Late to Win Its First Division II World Series

Bill Daly’s single scored Doug Noce in the eighth to break a 5-5 tie and Robert Hale’s two-run triple later in the inning broke the game open as Cal Poly San Luis Obispo defeated New Haven (Conn.), 9-5, to win the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. Division II World Series Friday night at Montgomery, Ala.

The Mustangs (37-24), who lost their opening game to Lewis (Tenn.), last Saturday, came back to win five straight in the double-elimination tournament. It’s the first title for Cal Poly, which was making its first appearance in the World Series.

New Haven ace Steve DiBartolomeo (17-2) took the loss, and Cal Poly reliever Bob Ryan (7-8) got the win. New Haven finished 36-5.

DiBartolomeo was named the tournament’s most valuable player. He threw 494 pitches in five games during the tournament. He was 2-2 with one save.

Cal Poly’s Billy Smith, who got on base on an infield throwing error, scored on a sacrifice fly by Matt Drake to make it 4-4 in the top of the third. Todd Rice hit a sacrifice fly to right in the seventh, scoring Drake, who had doubled, to make it 5-4.

In the top of the eighth, The Mustangs broke the 5-5 tie when Daly singled, scoring Noce; Drake singled, scoring Smith to make it 7-5, and Hale tripled, scoring Daly and Drake.