IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine dropped the weekend finale to Cal Poly, 8-3, on Mother's Day in Anteater Ballpark.

Fast Five
Cal Poly (24-25, 13-5) struggled to get the offense firing the previous two games, but wasted no time on Sunday. The second hitter of the game Elijah Greene belted a triple to right field scoring on the single from the next hitter Tate Samuelson. Conagher Sands followed with a two-run homer and suddenly the Mustangs led 3-0 with just one out. A strikeout from starter Tanner Brubaker got the second out, but two more single and a walk meant the end of the day for Brubaker giving way to Dylan Riddle still in the first inning. The Mustangs would work another walk and get a dribble for an infield single for a five-run first inning before Riddle could get the 'Eaters (31-15, 12-6) back in the dugout.

Late to the Party
The Anteaters had the rough time with the bats this afternoon unable to get a hit off Cal Poly starter Andrew Alvarez. After a leadoff walk in the fifth inning, Christian Koss dumped a single over the shortstop's head to break the drought, and then another walk loaded the bases to end Alvarez's day in the fourth. Reliever Michael Clark came, but an error on the first hitter scored a pair to draw the game to within 5-2. Mike Peabody jammed a ball into left field for a third 'Eater run before Clark could shut down the charge still leading 5-3 through five innings.

Defensive Breakdown
UCI had played solid defense all weekend as it entered the sixth with new life. Ryan Johnston on in relief got a pair of outs, but would leave with the bases loaded for Jordan Bocko to face Samuelson. He popped a ball straight up looking like it would end the inning, but the infield converged on the mound without anyone to take it, and Bocko tried to make a last-second dive at the ball, but could not make the catch keeping the inning going and scoring two runs. A passed ball let in a third unearned run in the frame swinging the momentum fully back to CP with now an 8-3 lead

Final Score: Cal Poly 8, UC Irvine 3
The 'Eaters only put up four hits on the afternoon, two from Christian Koss which included one of the team's two doubles. Zickefoose provided the other double in addition to Peabody's hit and RBI. Sam Ireland was credited with an RBI from the grounder he hit that produced an error. Eight of nine Mustangs recorded a hit with seven scoring runs. Sands' HR was his first of the season providing two of the team's five RBI.

Pitchers of Record
Brubaker was hung with the loss to go to 5-3 allowing five earned in 0.2 innings, It was the first time a weekend starter failed to escape the first inning since early 2017. Dylan Riddle put in a second straight career performance going 4.1 scoreless innings on just two hits and a career-high 60 pitches. Michael Clark earned the win for Cal Poly, his sixth, after going 3.2 scoreless. Alvarez only went four innings and three batters to miss out on the decision while allowing three runs, two earned.

Next Up
UC Irvine's conference title chances got a littler muddier now three full games behind leading UC Santa Barbara with six games to go, and Cal Poly moving into the second place spot a game up on the 'Eaters. Next for UCI is its fourth of eight straight home games with a Tuesday night visit from No. 1 UCLA at 6:00 p.m. UCI will recognize service members at the game in its Salute to Heroes Night in addition to holding Girl Scout Night.