Bernstein, Zehner Lead Cal Poly to 6-2 Win Over Sacramento State

Thursday, March 12

6 pm

5-9

Sacramento State

8-7

Sacramento State

Cal Poly

Bernstein, Zehner Lead Cal Poly to 6-2 Win Over Sacramento State

3/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Freshman right-hander Andrew Bernstein scattered seven hits over 6 1/3 innings for his third win and Zack Zehner belted a two-run home run, his third of the season, as Cal Poly opened a four-game non-conference series against Sacramento State with a 6-2 victory Thursday night in Baggett Stadium.

Bernstein (pictured at right) gave up two runs, walked three and struck out one to lift his record to 3-1. Senior right-hander Danny Zandona earned his second save by striking out five over 2 2/2 scoreless frames.

Zehner broke open a 2-1 contest with a two-run home run to right field in the fourth inning, adding to Cal Poly's slim 2-1 lead. The Mustangs added insurance runs in the sixth and seventh innings to improve to 5-9 on the season.

Sacramento State fell to 8-7.

In winning for the first time in eight tries this season when the opponent scores first, Cal Poly outhit Sacramento State 9-8, led by junior designated hitter Mark Mathias and junior shortstop Peter Van Gansen, each with three hits. Mathias had a double while Van Gansen tripled.

Sophomore second baseman Alec Smith added a single and double for the Mustangs.

For Sacramento State, third baseman PJ Floyd, shortstop Scotty Burcham and right fielder Nathan Lukes, the top three hitters in the Hornets' batting order, all singled twice.

The loss went to Sacramento State starter Justin Dillon (2-3) as he allowed four runs and six hits in five-plus innings with no walks and six strikeouts.

After the Hornets scored in the top of the first inning on a groundout, Cal Poly evened things in the bottom of the opening frame on Van Gansen's RBI single up the middle.

The Mustangs took the lead for good, 2-1, in the third on an RBI double by Mathias. Zehner's home run to the opposite field in the fourth gave Cal Poly a 4-1 cushion.

A sacrifice fly by junior third baseman John Schuknecht made it 5-1 in the sixth and sophomore catcher Jake Lesinski's squeeze bunt in the seventh accounted for Cal Poly's final run.

Second game of the series will be played Friday at 6 p.m. in Baggett Stadium with Cal Poly to send junior right-hander Casey Bloomquist (0-1, 5.87 ERA) to the mound against Sacramento State senior right-hander Brennan Leitao (0-1, 2.25 ERA).