Lauren RabainoAfter losing several late leads while dropping 10 of 12 games, the Cal Poly baseball team turned the tables Tuesday afternoon.
The Mustangs, who trailed Pepperdine 5-3 heading into the seventh inning at Eddy D. Field Stadium, reeled off six consecutive runs to regain the lead on their way to a 10-5, non-conference win in Malibu and snapping a four-game losing skid.
Cal Poly claimed a 3-0 lead on a two-run single by junior leftfielder Ryan Lee and an RBI single by sophomore first baseman Wes Dorrell in the first inning before surrendering five unanswered runs.
Afterward, the rally began with junior centerfielder Logan Schafer doubling to bring home the first two runs to tie the affair. Following an error that yielded the go-ahead score, Dorrell belted a two-run double to right-center field and senior second baseman Pat Pezet singled up the middle to plate Dorrell and establish a 9-5 advantage.
In the eighth, on two-out singles by Schafer, junior third baseman Brent Morel and Lee, the Mustangs (10-17) tacked on another run.
Dorrell’s three hits and three RBI highlighted Cal Poly’s 13 hits overall.
Pezet, Lee and Schafer – whose hit streak is now at nine contests – each added two hits.
Pepperdine (20-11), which will visit San Luis Obispo on May 13, compiled 12 hits.
Sophomore right-hander D.J. Mauldin (3-4) chalked up the victory while allowing two hits and no walks with one strikeout in 2 1/3 scoreless innings.
Jordan Durrance (2-1), the third of five Waves to take the mound, picked up the loss.
Opening a six-game home stand, the Mustangs will take the diamond against another non-Big West Conference foe, Fresno State (16-14), at 6 tonight in Baggett Stadium.
Sophomore right-hander Kevin Castner (1-1, 5.09 ERA) is expected to start for Cal Poly, and junior right-hander Tanner Scheppers (4-2, 2.22 ERA) for the Bulldogs, who have already taken two of three from the Mustangs this season.