Cal Poly lost two games to No. 5 Oregon State, 3-0 and 8-4, and beat New Mexico 6-4 in extra innings in Corvallis, Ore.
Right-hander Dallas Buck and southpaw Kevin Gunderson, both junior All-Americans, combined on a seven-hit 3-0 shutout of the Mustangs in a non-conference baseball game Thursday night. Three of Cal Poly’s hits came from outfielder Jimmy Gardiner.
In a doubleheader on Saturday, Cal Poly started off on a positive note with its 10-inning, 6-4 victory over New Mexico. Casey Fien pitched eight innings and allowed four runs on seven hits and one walk, but received a no decision. D.J. Mauldin earned the win, pitching a perfect ninth inning before handing the ball off to Rocky Roquet for his eighth save of the season.
Adam Buschini and Gilbert Gil had two hits and two RBIs apiece for the Mustangs offensively. Josh Lansford also contributed with three hits and one RBI.
In the second part of the doubleheader, the Mustangs walked themselves into a 9-5 loss. Gary Daley Jr., Thomas Eager and Andrew Slorp combined to walk 12 batters in seven innings, seven of which belonged to Daley.
Cal Poly scored three times with two outs in the first inning against the Beavers. Corey Barthel singled up the middle to drive in two runs and Matt Canepa’s single up the middle knocked in the third run.
But Oregon State took advantage of five walks to score four times in the bottom of the first off Mustang starter Gary Daley Jr. (5-6) and never looked back, adding a run in the second, two in the third and one more in the sixth for an 8-3 advantage.
Cal Poly scored its final run in the ninth as Pat Pezet singled up the middle and eventually scored on an Oregon State error.
Mustang head coach Larry Lee was ejected for the first time in his four-year tenure at Cal Poly, arguing balls and strikes in the first inning. That first inning took 39 minutes to complete, with Nickerson throwing 50 pitches and Daley 45.
Oregon State All-American right-hander Jonah Nickerson (7-4) settled down after a rocky start, allowing three runs and seven hits in 6.2 innings for the win. He struck out a career-high 13 and walked three.
Cal Poly is now 24-20 on the season and 7-3 against top-25 schools. Oregon State improved to 31-10 with its win over the Mustangs.