March 11, 2011

Box Score

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - The LMU baseball team (9-5) dropped a heartbreaker by a count of 2-1 on Friday to open a four-game series against Cal Poly (5-6) at Cal Poly's Baggett Stadium. After failing to score with the bases loaded and nobody out in the top of the eighth of a pitcher's duel, LMU allowed an unearned run in the bottom of the ninth inning on a ground ball that got through Jonathan Johnson's legs at second base.

Sophomore Matt Lowenstein went 2-for-5 out of the leadoff spot to record his sixth multiple-hit game of the year. Junior Alex Guthrie contributed the lone RBI for LMU, singling home Evan Simonitsch in the second inning. Simonitsch finished 1-for-2 with a pair of walks and the run scored.

Junior Jason Wheeler tossed six and two-thirds innings for LMU as the starter, allowing just one run on six hits and two walks while striking out six. Chris Eusebio dealt the next inning and a third scoreless before sophomore Aaron Griffin allowed the unearned run on a pair of walks in a third of a frame. The loss dropped Griffin to 2-1 on the year.

Tim Wise led the offensive attack for Cal Poly, finishing 2-for-3 before leaving with what looked to be a hamstring injury. Denver Chavez posted the lone RBI, lining a RBI-single into the gap in right centerfield to plate Evan Busby in the fifth.

Mason Radeke was impressive as Cal Poly's starter, lasting seven innings and striking out five while allowing just one run to earn a no decision. Eugene Wright loaded the bases with nobody out in the eighth before Jeff Johnson came in and got the Mustangs out of the jam en route to tossing two scoreless frames to earn his first victory. Johnson punched out a pair of hitters while throwing 25 pitches, including 17 strikes.

Simonitsch earned a walk to start the second before moving to second on an errant pickoff attempt. After a fly ball moved the runner to third, Guthrie came up clutch with a two-out single right field.

Cal Poly got back to even in the fifth as a Busby single and a wild pitch set the table for Chavez' RBI-single into right centerfield.

LMU threatened in a big way in the eighth, loading the bases with nobody out as Matt Koch doubled to start the inning. Simonitsch reached with a bunt single before a hit-by-pitch loaded the bags. Unfortunately for the Lions, Johnson emerged from the bullpen and struck out Joe Vierra for the first out before inducing a ground ball to third that forced out Koch at the plate. A second ground ball got the Mustangs out of the jam unscathed one play later, shifting the momentum in favor of Cal Poly.

Pinch-hitter Matt Russell led off the bottom of the ninth with a walk before a sacrifice bunt and an intentional walk left runners at first and second with one out. Bobby Crocker followed by grounding a ball to second base that went through Johnson's legs and into right centerfield to hand Cal Poly the walk-off victory.

The two teams continue the four-game series tomorrow with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.