SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. --- UC Irvine was unable to contain the Mustang offense in the rubber game of the series as the Anteaters gave up runs in multiples of two in each of the first five innings and went on to lose 10-3 to fifth-ranked Cal Poly Sunday at Baggett Stadium. The series loss was UCI's first in Big West play as the team lost its second consecutive game and fell to 34-16 overall and 15-3 in conference games.
Eight of the 10 runs allowed came with two outs and Cal Poly took the lead for good in the first after a two-out error proved to be costly. Evan Brock had a runner on first and looked to be out of the inning after inducing a bouncer to third. Taylor Sparks fielded the ball cleanly but the throw to Spencer was high to extending the inning for Zack Zehner, who hit a two-run single through the left side to give the Mustangs the 2-0 lead.
In the second, Cal Poly put runners on first and second with one out on a single by Peter Van Gansen and a fielder's choice from Jordan Schuknecht. Brock retired Mark Mathias with a fly-ball to center for the second out but the right-hander was tagged by RBI singles from Mark Ellis an Nick Torres as Cal Poly extended the lead to 4-0.
Brock was unable to settle in and gave up a pair of triples in the third as Cal Poly widened the margin to five runs. Van Gansen squeezed home Chris Hoo for the 6-0 advantage. After giving up a double to Schuknecht, Brock handed the ball to senior Mitch Merten, who retired the final two batters to end the inning.
Merten ran into trouble in the fourth, giving up a run-scoring double to Allen and an RBI single to Hoo for the 8-0 Mustang lead. Merten gave way to Matt Fielding, who induced a fly-ball to center for the frame's final out.
UCI managed two runs in the sixth as Taylor Sparks' sacrifice fly scored Adam Alcantara and Jonathan Munoz doubled in Mikey Duarte. The Anteaters tacked on a run in the ninth on a wild pitch.
Brock lasted just 2.1 innings, giving up six runs (four earned) on nine hits while striking out two to drop to 8-4. Jimmy Litchfield and Evan Manarino posted a scoreless inning apiece. Duarte and Alcantara led the team with two hits apiece.
Casey Bloomquist improved to 10-1 after pitching six innings and giving up two runs on five hits.
