Cal Poly Explodes Late to Win First Game of Pacific Series, 11-3

Friday, March 6

Stockton, CA

6 pm

3-7

Pacific

0-12

Cal Poly

Pacific

Cal Poly Explodes Late to Win First Game of Pacific Series, 11-3

3/6/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

STOCKTON, Calif. – Held to two runs and six hits in the first six innings, Cal Poly exploded for nine runs and eight hits in the seventh and eighth frames, turning a 3-2 deficit into an 11-3 victory over Pacific in the opening game of a three-game non-conference baseball series Friday night at Klein Family Field.

Senior right-hander Danny Zandona (1-1) retired all seven batters he faced, five by strikeout, for his first win of the season as the Mustangs improved to 3-7 for the year, winning a Friday game for the first time this season.

Pacific fell to 0-12.

Senior center fielder Jordan Ellis (pictured at right) went 4-for-5 at the plate with one RBI and three runs scored while junior shortstop Peter Van Gansen and senior right fielder Zack Zehner both collected three hits as Cal Poly outhit Pacific 14-4.

Van Gansen drove in three runs and scored twice while Zehner knocked in four runs, two on a pair of sacrifice flies. Junior designated hitter Mark Mathias added two singles and a pair of walks, driving in one run and scoring three times.

Pacific overcame an early 2-0 deficit with single runs in the first, second and fifth innings. Cal Poly erupted for five runs in the seventh, the key hits a two-run double by Van Gansen and a run-scoring triple by senior first baseman Tommy Pluschkell.

The Mustangs added four unearned runs in the eighth, Zehner tripling off the left-center field wall to knock in two.

Mustang starter Casey Bloomquist allowed three runs and three hits in 4 2/3 innings, walking four and striking out six. Nick Suniga tossed two scoreless frames to close it out, striking out two.

The loss went to Pacific right-hander Will Lydon (0-4) as he allowed four runs and six hits in six-plus innings with two walks and six strikeouts.

Pacific's four hits were singles by four different players.

Cal Poly took advantage of Pacific's four errors as six of the 11 Mustang runs were unearned.

Second game of the series will be played Saturday at 2 p.m. with freshman southpaw Kyle Smith (0-2, 4.82 ERA) on the mound for Cal Poly against Pacific junior right-hander Jake Jenkins (0-2, 6.23 ERA).

The series finale is set for Sunday at 1 o'clock.