Cal Poly Defeats UC Davis 4-2 in Big West Series Opener

Friday, May 13

6 pm

22-22, 11-8

UC Davis

16-28, 8-8

UC Davis

Cal Poly

Cal Poly Defeats UC Davis 4-2 in Big West Series Opener

5/13/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Junior right-hander Mason Radeke earned his eighth win of the season, scattering seven hits over seven innings with six strikeouts, as Cal Poly defeated UC Davis 4-2 in the opener of a three-game Big West Conference baseball series Friday night before 1,272 in Baggett Stadium.

Radeke (8-2), now 6-1 in Big West starts, allowed two earned runs -- one each in the sixth and eighth innings -- and walked three as he lowered his ERA to 2.67 and evened the Mustangs' overall mark at 22-22. Cal Poly is 11-8 for third place in the Big West.

UC Davis, despite outhitting Cal Poly 7-4, fell to 16-28 and 8-8 in Big West contests. The Aggies had won seven of their last nine games.

In winning for only the second time in 20 games in which it was outhit by the opposition, Cal Poly erupted for three runs in the fifth inning for a 3-0 lead and never looked back, adding an insurance run in the seventh for a 4-1 lead on Bobby Crocker's steal of home plate.

UC Davis loaded the bases with nobody out in the eighth inning on three walks issued by Radeke (pictured above). Senior southpaw Frankie Reed was summoned from the bullpen and recorded a strikeout and two fly balls to the outfield, one of them a sacrifice fly by Eric Johnson.

Reed retired the side in order in the ninth for his second save.

The loss went to UC Davis junior right-hander Scott Lyman (3-5) as he gave up four runs (three earned) and four hits in seven innings with two walks and six strikeouts. Nathan Slater pitched two scoreless, hitless frames in relief of Lyman.

Cal Poly broke up a scoreless pitchers' duel with three runs in the fifth, loading the bases on a hit batsman, a single by catcher Elliot Stewart and a fielding error by the Aggies.

Second baseman Denver Chavez drew a walk to force in the first run, shortstop Mike Miller was hit by a pitch for an RBI and a 2-0 Mustang lead and designated hitter DJ Gentile's sacrifice fly to right field pushed across the third tally.

Scott Kalush singled down the right-field line for an RBI in the sixth inning, but Crocker's steal of home in the seventh restored Cal Poly's three-run advantage at 4-1.

Designated hitter David Popkins and left fielder Seth Batty both had two of UC Davis' seven hits. Cal Poly's four hits included a double by right fielder Mitch Haniger and singles by Stewart, Crocker and third baseman J.J. Thompson.

Cal Poly's only other win this season when outhit by the opponent was a 6-4 verdict over UC Santa Barbara on April 8 as the Gauchos outhit the Mustangs 9-8.

Second game of the series will be played Saturday night at 6 with Cal Poly to send senior right-hander Steven Fischback (5-2, 3.63 ERA) to the mound against UC Davis junior southpaw Anthony Kupbens (5-5, 2.24 ERA).