Ryan ChartrandDespite pulling within a run in the eighth inning, the Cal Poly baseball team could get no closer during its Senior Day Sunday afternoon at Baggett Stadium, falling 3-2 to Long Beach State, which completed a three-game, Big West Conference series sweep.
Cal Poly (23-30, 7-14) first got on the scoreboard and contributed to what would become the final margin when sophomore designated hitter Luke Yoder sent a two-RBI home run to left field.
The blast chased junior right-hander Vance Worley, who yielded five hits through 7 2/3 innings.
Worley (6-3), however, struck out five batters and walked none.
In the ninth, junior right-hander Bryan Shaw gave up a two-out double to sophomore first baseman Wes Dorrell, but sophomore rightfielder Adam Melker flied out to center, leaving Shaw with his seventh save of the season.
The Dirtbags tallied their first score in the sixth, as sophomore leftfielder Steve Tinoco singled through the right side to plate junior designated hitter Zach Barger, before Barger and freshman centerfielder Jordan Casas contributed RBI singles an inning later.
Sophomore right-hander Steven Fischback (5-4) allowed three runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings, walking two and striking out nine.
Melker was 2 for 4 with a pair of doubles in defeat.
Junior first baseman Shane Peterson went 3 for 4 for second-place Long Beach State (34-18, 14-7), which outhit Cal Poly 8-6.
The seventh-place Mustangs, whose five-game losing skid is their longest of the season, were swept for the second time in conference play this year.
They conclude their season with a three-game series at UC Riverside opening at 7 p.m. Friday.
First pitch Saturday is scheduled for 2 p.m., with Sunday’s start slated for 1 p.m.