Cal Poly pounds UCLA in game 2

February 23, 2014

By JOSH FRIEDMAN

Both of Cal Poly’s big boppers hit three run home runs, and freshman pitcher Slater Lee threw a complete game shutout in his first collegiate road start as the Mustangs beat UCLA 8-0 Saturday.

Junior right fielder Nick Torres put Cal Poly on the board by belting a two-out, three-run homer in the third inning. Sophomore designated hitter Brian Mundell added a three-run shot in the fifth, part of a five-run inning.

Lee two-hit the defending national champion Bruins, retiring the final 10 UCLA batters in doing so. He threw 108 pitches, walking one and striking out seven in his first collegiate shutout.

The freshman righty beat UCLA junior lefty Grant Watson, who threw six scoreless innings in the College World Series last year.

Mustang hitters tagged Watson with five earned runs in four innings. Watson surrendered the homer to Torres, and left the game with Mundell at the plate and two runners on in the fifth.

Reliever Scott Burke allowed the Mundell homer, a no-doubt shot to left that made the game 7-0.

Mundell was the only Mustang with two hits. Prior to the homerun, he laced a long single to left field. After belting his homer, Torres hit a hard ground ball that rolled by the diving Bruin shortstop and also scored a run. The UCLA scorekeeper ruled it an error, though.

The Cal Poly victory evened the series between the 12th ranked Bruins and the 22nd ranked Mustangs. The rubber match will take place Sunday at 1 p.m and feature a duel of sophomore righties. Cody Poteet will start for the Bruins, and Casey Bloomquist will pitch for Cal Poly.

 

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