Junior right fielder Nick Torres hit a three-run home run in Sunday’s game to seal a series sweep against Kansas State.
Keenan Donath
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The Cal Poly baseball team swept Kansas State in its first series of the year on Sunday. The Wildcats, who entered the opening game on Friday ranked No. 22 in the nation, learned they would have their hands full at Baggett Stadium.
After winning the first two games of the series, 3-0 and 5-2 respectively, the Mustangs completed the sweep on Sunday with a 10-1 victory thanks to consistent performances from Cal Poly’s pitching staff and hot bats scattered throughout the lineup.
Cal Poly’s sophomore righty Casey Bloomquist was the first to take the mound on Sunday and he made quick work of Kansas State’s hitters. The Wildcats were off balance in the early innings and amassed just four hits in the game.
The Cal Poly bats jumped on Kansas State’s right-handed sophomore Jordan Witcig early. Leadoff hitter Tim Wise opened the game with a single, which was quickly followed by a base hit by junior right fielder Nick Torres. Sophomore designated hitter Brian Mundell then hit his first double of the day to deep left centerfield, which scored Wise. Torres would later score on a single by senior third baseman Jimmy Allen.
And the Mustang offense did not stop there. In the bottom of the third inning, after reaching on a throwing error, Torres scored again, this time on a wild pitch. Mundell would also score on a sacrifice fly after reaching base following another double. Witcig was pulled after 2 2/3 innings of work.
Meanwhile for Cal Poly, Bloomquist turned in a solid performance. Through his first five innings of work, Bloomquist allowed no runs and three hits, but after loading the bases in the top of the sixth on three straight walks, head coach Larry Lee brought in freshman Nick Suniga for relief.
After throwing balls on his first two pitches, Suniga quieted a potential Wildcat rally by allowing just one run to score — on a groundout — while recording all three outs in the inning.
In the bottom half of the sixth, the Mustangs built on their lead with singles by Mundell and Allen to score two more. In the seventh, a three-run home run by Torres blew the game open for Cal Poly.
Mundell finished 3 for 3 with two walks, while Torres and Allen went 2 for 4 with 3 RBIs each.
The Mustangs look to improve on their spotless record at Santa Clara on Tuesday.