david-butler-uci-bsb-2025-calpoly-bigwestchampionship
Robert Huskey

Anteaters Fall 15-5 to Set Up Sunday Title Game

| By: Alex Roberts-Croteau
Box Score FULLERTON, Calif. --- UC Irvine baseball was unable to wrap up the Big West Championship Saturday in their first chance as they were defeated by Cal Poly, 15-5, in eight innings at Goodwin Field to set up a winner-take-all matchup Sunday afternoon.
  • UCI started off great with Ryder Brooks on the mound as he retired all six batters he faced through the first two innings.
  • The Anteater offense gave him some support with a three-run second inning thanks to RBI singles by Blake Penso and Will Bermudez and a Frankie Carney sacrifice fly to lead, 3-0
  • The Mustangs stormed right back with four runs on four hits to take the 4-3 lead, and they kept on the gas with another four-hit, four-run inning in the fourth to extend the lead to 8-3
  • A big turning point came in the bottom of the fourth inning as the 'Eaters were able to get a run back when Anthony Martinez was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded bringing the tying run to the plate with two outs.
    • A wild pitch got past the Cal Poly catcher with Frankie Carney racing home during the next batter but was thrown out trying to score to end UCI's rally early still down 8-4
  • The Mustangs pounced again for four more runs with the help of a pair of UCI errors to really put a dagger into the game and lead, 12-4
  • UCI put across another run to draw within 12-5, but Cal Poly's Chris Downs who came on in relief in the second inning didn't give up much else going the final 6.1 innings on the mound throwing 118 pitches and settling down the Anteater offense.
  • Cal Poly put the finishing touch on with a three-run eighth inning capped by a two-run home run to put the run rule in effect and end the game after eight innings, 15-5.
  • The Anteaters made their five hits count knocking in four of their five runs from them.
    • Blake Penso continued his torrid stretch providing two hits and both drove in runs.
    • James Castagnola reached three times scoring a run in the process
    • Anthony Martinez added an RBI drawing him within one of the all-time program record held by Jeff Malinoff at 189
The Big West Championship extends to one final day on Sunday, May 25, with a 3:00 p.m. start time for the Championship Final. The matchup on the mound features Finnegan Wall starting for UC Irvine against Cal Poly's Ethan Marmie.


 
 
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