UCI can’t stop Mustangs

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Behind the pitching of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s DJ Mauldin, UC Irvine, ranked No. 3 by Collegiate Baseball, fell, 4-2, in the second game of a three-game Big West Conference series against the Mustangs Saturday at Baggett Stadium.

Mauldin held the Anteaters (18-3, 1-1 in conference) scoreless for 4 2/3 innings in relief to help the Mustangs improve to 9-13, 1-1.

Pat Pezet hit a home run in the first inning and Luke Yoder added another in the third to take an early 2-1 lead.

Sophomore first baseman Jeff Cusick notched the Anteaters’ first score with an RBI single in the third. The Anteaters tied the game with a bases-loaded walk in the fifth. Sophomore designated hitter Francis Larson drew the walk to bring junior Ben Orloff across. But Cal Poly put up two runs in the sixth, scoring on Brent Morel’s RBI double and a UCI error by senior catcher Aaron Lowenstein.

Orloff, a shortstop, paced UCI, going three for five, while Cusick was two for three with an RBI.

Starter Bryce Stowell (4-1), a sophomore right-hander, suffered his first loss of the season after allowing four runs, three of them earned, on six hits. He struck out five in six innings.

Mauldin (2-3) held the Anteaters to two hits. He struck out four and walked two. Cal Poly starter Derrick Saito struck out six in 4 1/3 innings and gave up two runs on five hits.

The series ends today at 1:05 p.m. at Baggett Stadium.

Big West Conference

Cla Poly SLO 4, UC Irvine 2

SCORE BY INNINGS

Stowell, Bergman (7) and Lowenstein; Saito, Mauldin (5) and Thomas. W – Mauldin, 2-3. L – Stowell, 4-1. 2B – Dorrell (CP), Lee (CP). HR – Yoder (CP), Pezet (CP).