No. 24 Cal Poly Falls to Pepperdine, 5-3, in Non-Conference Game

Wednesday, May 1

Malibu, CA

3 pm

28-14

Pepperdine

23-17

Cal Poly

Pepperdine

No. 24 Cal Poly Falls to Pepperdine, 5-3, in Non-Conference Game

5/1/2013 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

MALIBU, Calif. – Pepperdine scored five runs in the first two innings and Cal Poly couldn't recover as the No. 24 Mustangs fell to Pepperdine, 5-3, in a non-conference baseball game Wednesday afternoon at Eddy D. Field Stadium.

In losing to the Waves by two runs for the second time this season –- Pepperdine scored two unearned runs in the ninth inning for an 8-6 victory at Baggett Stadium in March –- Cal Poly fell to 28-14 for the season. The Mustangs are 15-13 since starting the season 13-1 and have lost three straight games for the first time this year.

Pepperdine improved to 23-17.

The Waves parlayed four hits, a hit batsman and a two-out fielding error into three runs and a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Hutton Moyer homered with one out in the second inning and Pepperdine added another run in the frame on an RBI double by Sam Meyer for a 5-0 advantage.

Cal Poly's bullpen closed the door on the Waves the rest of the way, but the Mustang offense could generate just three runs in the final seven innings of the game.

Chase Johnson (pictured at right) pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings, Taylor Chris secured four outs and Michael Dingilian tossed two scoreless, hitless frames for Cal Poly.

The damage was already done, however, as Mustang starter Casey Bloomquist (3-1) suffered his first loss, allowing five runs (three earned) and seven hits in two innings with no walks and one strikeout.

Bloomquist had pitched into the seventh inning in his previous three starts as Cal Poly defeated CSU Bakersfield, Santa Clara and California.

The Mustangs scored their first run in the fifth inning as David Armendariz singled, moved to third on a Pepperdine fielding error and came home on Peter Van Gansen's grounder to second base.

Cal Poly also scored twice in the eighth. Nick Torres led off with a double to left field, Brian Mundell tripled to center field for an RBI and Armendariz grounded out to shortstop, cutting Pepperdine's lead to 5-3.

The Mustangs were retired in order in the ninth as Pepperdine closer Michael Swanner earned his 11th save. Starter Matt Maurer (2-3) gave up one unearned run in five innings for the win with one walk and four strikeouts. He scattered five hits.

Cal Poly's nine hits included two each by Mundell, Jordan Ellis and Denver Chavez. Ellis now has a 10-game hitting streak while Armendariz has hit in seven straight, going 9-for-25 (.360) during the run.

Moyer collected three of Pepperdine's 10 hits – a single, double and home run – driving in one run. Meyer, Kolten Yamaguchi and Bryan Langlois each added a pair of hits.

Cal Poly, which ended a five-game road trip with Wednesday's loss, resumes Big West Conference play this weekend with a three-game home series against UC Riverside in Baggett Stadium. Games on Friday and Saturday start at 6 p.m., with Sunday's series finale to begin at 1 o'clock.