SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. --- UC Irvine and Cal Poly bashed it out with 23 hits between them, but pitching and defense dictated the outcome with the 'Eaters pulling out the 3-1 victory Friday night at Baggett Stadium.

Starters Andre Pallante and Trent Shelton bent but did not break each throwing six innings on the night. Cal Poly (22-26, 8-8) grabbed the lead first off Pallante on an Elijah Skipps double in the second inning. Pallante would settle in leaving eight Mustang runners on base while punching out nine strikeouts from a career-high 117 pitches.

The 'Eaters (28-19, 9-7) finally put something together in the fifth after a second inning that featured four hits and no runs. Cole Kreuter nuzzled a ball over the mound in through the middle scoring Mikey Filia from third base with two outs to tie things, 1-1. The 'Eaters manufactured its next run in the sixth inning after getting the first two runners on. A Parker Coss sac bunt followed by a Matt Reitano sac fly gave UCI its first lead of the night, 2-1.

The bullpen did the rest for Pallante starting with Sean Sparling in the seventh. A rocky start with a leadoff double followed with a pair of flyouts. Nick Meyer then lashed a two-out single right by Sparling, but Mikey Filia came up with a line drive to the plate to nail the runner and preserve the lead.

Jordan Bocko was untouchable coming in for the two-inning save getting all six hitters he faced to help close out the opener, 3-1.

Bocko's save was his seventh of the season, eighth in his career. Sparling's appearance was his 73rd all-time as he earns a hold. Pallante improves to 8-1 on the year now with his ERA holding at 1.32 for the season. His nine strikeouts pushed him over 100 for the season, just the 14th time in program history an 'Eater has reached the century mark.

Shelton dropped to 4-3 on the year after allowing just two runs on 11 hits. Austin Dondanville threw the final three innings for Cal Poly.

Mikey Filia led the offensive charge from the nine-hole in addition to his defense. Filia had a career high four hits, two infield singles, scoring two of the 'Eaters' runs. Cole Kreuter brought him home each time singling in the fifth and ninth with two outs in each occasion. Christian Koss had a three-hit night for the 'Eaters, part of their 13 hits, five infield singles. Konnor Zickefoose also had two hits and a run scored.

UCI improves to 9-7 in conference play keeping pace with Cal State Fullerton, and now stand at 28-19 overall on the year guaranteeing the program a non-losing campaign, and are now 14-7 in road games.

The 'Eaters are back Saturday, May 12, also at 6:00 p.m., with a chance to take the series from the Mustangs.