SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. --- UC Irvine opened things up late after pitchers owned the early portion of the game in an 11-2 victory Saturday night in Baggett Stadium over Cal Poly.
The squads ran through the first five innings tied at 1-1 disrupted only by solo homers to each side first by John Brontsema in the first inning and matched in the second by John Schuknecht.
Other than that, UCI (28-20, 8-9) starter Alonzo Garcia and Mustang (27-22, 8-9) starter Craig Colen were brilliant through five allowing just five hits between them.
Cal Poly gave way to Austin Dondanville in the sixth where UCI broke the tie thanks to a Keston Hiura sac fly making it 2-1. From that point on, the Anteaters began to roll against the Mustang bullpen beginning with two outs in the seventh.
Jonathan Munoz and Alex Guenette each sliced singles into right field to knock out Dondanville bringing on left-hander Thomas Triantos. The Anteaters countered with pinch-hitter Andrew Martinez who promptly tripled into the right-center gap to stretch the lead to 4-1. The offense built off that getting the next five hitters to reach for a five-run inning putting UCI ahead, 7-1.
The 'Eaters rode the momentum with four more in the ninth highlighted by a missile from Adam Alcantara who blasted his first career home run for three of the runs and extending the lead to 10.
CP worked a run in the ninth, but could not sustain a rally as UCI took the 11-2 victory.
Garcia managed to get an out in the sixth after UCI grabbed the lead back, enough for his fifth win of the season. Ben Ritchey did what the Mustang relievers couldn't tossing one-hit ball over 2.2 innings of relief for his ninth hold of the season.
The Mustang defense didn't do the staff any favors committing five errors accounting for three unearned runs. Cam Schneider took on those unearned runs, part of five total he was responsible for over 1.1 innings.
Alcantara's three-RBI night was accompanied by two RBIs from Martinez and single RBIs from three others. Brontsema finished with two hits and scored three times. Guenette also had a two-hit night while Mitchell Holland smacked three hits adding a run and RBI. UCI even had three steals with a pair from the legs of Evan Cassolato.
The win sets up an important Sunday game for the series and a final gasp to stay in the race for the postseason in the Big West. Cal Poly is still undecided on their starter, but he will oppose left-hander Cameron Bishop for the 'Eaters with start time at 1:00 p.m.
________________________________________________________
For UC Irvine Athletics ticket information, please call (949) 824-5000 or e-mail athletics.tickets@uci.edu. For more information click here.
For information on how you can help support UC Irvine Athletics, please call (949) 824-6933 or e-mail aaf@uci.edu. For additional information, click here.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and by downloading the UCI Front Row app, available free to all Anteater fans through iTunes and Google Play, to view schedules, results, and up-to-the-minute news.
