Cal Poly loses to Irvine 11-1 in series clincher

May 13, 2013

With exception of the first four innings Sunday, Cal Poly outscored UC Irvine 1-0 in the deciding game of a Big West conference series in Orange County between two ranked teams.

In the first four innings, though, Cal Poly pitchers surrendered 11 runs and Mustang hitters struck out ten times. The 22nd ranked Anteaters won the game 11-1 and won the series 2-1 to move a game ahead of the 23rd ranked Mustangs in the conference standings with six games remaining.

Irvine led 11-0 before Cal Poly managed to record an out in the fourth inning. Starting pitcher Bryan Granger lasted an inning and two thirds and allowed four runs. Reliever Michael Holback pitched an inning and a third and gave up three runs. Danny Zandona entered the game in the fourth and surrendered four runs without recording an out.

Anteater starter Andrew Morales pitched seven scoreless innings, striking out ten Mustangs and improving his record to 10-0. Irvine first baseman Connor Spencer led the Anteater offense with three hits and three runs batted in.

Cal Poly reliever Chase Johnson cooled the Irvine bats, pitching three scoreless innings. Johnson entered the game in the fourth inning with two runners on base, no outs, the score 11-0 and worked out of the inning without allowing Irvine to score another run.

Mustang infielder John Schuknecht drove in the only Cal Poly run on a double in the eighth inning.

With the loss, Cal Poly (33-16, 12-9) dropped a game behind Irvine (31-16, 13-8) in the Big West standings with two weekend series still to play.

The Mustangs return home for a non-conference game Tuesday night against Cal State Bakersfield, followed by a weekend series against Cal State Northridge. Cal Poly will host Northridge, whom they trail by three games in the conference standings, Friday through Sunday.