From UC Irvine Media Release
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — UCI’s Brock Bardeen drove in the eventual game-winning run as the third-ranked Anteaters defeated Cal Poly, 12-4, in the Big West Conference opener Friday at Baggett Stadium. The win lifted UC Irvine to 18-2 overall and 1-0 in the Big West while Cal Poly fell to 8-13 (0-1 overall).
Bardeen was 1 for 3 with three RBI while Tyler Hoechlin also drove in three with a bases-loaded triple in the ninth. First baseman Jeff Cusick was 3 for 5 while Ryan Fisher was 2 for 4 with three runs scored. Casey Stevenson made his debut as an Anteater, going 2 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored.
Junior Scott Gorgen picked up the win to improve to 5-1. Gorgen, who had given up four runs all season, was touched for four early runs but rebounded and held the Mustangs scoreless for four innings before UCI turned to Noel Avison in the ninth. Gorgen matched a career-high with 12 strikeouts and walked one while scattering six hits. Avison struck out one and retired the ninth in order.
Cal Poly’s Luke Yoder gave the Mustangs a 1-0 edge with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the first. Pat Pezet doubled to lead off the fourth and Brent Morel’s one-out triple scored Pezet for a 2-1 lead. Gorgen then gave up his second home run of the season to Wes Dorrell as Cal Poly led 4-0.
The Anteaters got on the board in the top of the fifth. Fisher led off the inning with a double and advanced to third on a fly-ball out to right field by Francis Larson. Fisher would cross the plate on Bardeen’s grounder to second.
UCI tied the game in the top of the sixth with all four runs coming with two outs. Stevenson and Cusick hit consecutive singles to start the rally. Fisher laced a pitch up the middle that caromed off starter Eric Massingham, allowing Fisher to reach first and Stevenson to score from second. Cusick, who took third on the play, then scored as Larson’s grounder to third was thrown wide of the first-base bag, tying the game and putting Fisher and Larson in scoring position. Bardeen delivered again with a single up the middle to give the Anteaters a 5-4 lead they would not relinquish.
UCI broke the game open in the ninth with seven runs in the inning. Bardeen drew a leadoff walk and Hoechlin, who pinch-ran for Bardeen, advanced to second on the successful sacrifice by Sean Madigan. Catcher Aaron Lowenstein punched a pitch through the left-side on a hit-and-run play, plating Hoechlin. Ollie Linton’s single was followed by an RBI double by Ben Orloff and Stevenson, laid down a bunt on the suicide squeeze and reached first on a Cal Poly miscue that allowed two runs to score. Hoechlin’s triple, his first of the season, capped the scoring for the Anteaters.
Massingham took the loss (1-3) after holding UCI to just three hits through five. Massingham struck out six and walked one while giving up nine runs (six earned) on 11 hits in 8.1 innings. Grant Theopolis yielded three unearned runs.
The Mustangs were led by Dorrell, who was 2 for 4 with two RBI.
The series continues Saturday at 6:00 p.m.
