March 12, 2011

Box Score

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - Designated hitter Matt Koch belted a three-run home run as Loyola Marymount raced to a 7-0 lead in the first three innings and held on for a 7-6 victory over Cal Poly in the opener of a non-conference baseball doubleheader Saturday afternoon in Baggett Stadium.

Cal Poly bounced back from the deficit with two runs in the fifth inning, one more in the sixth and pulled to within one in the bottom of the ninth on DJ Gentile's three-run home run, but saw its five-game winning streak come to an end. The Mustangs are 5-7 while the Lions improved to 10-5.

Second game of the doubleheader was to begin at 4:25 p.m.

Mustang junior southpaw Kyle Anderson (1-3) allowed seven runs and 11 hits in four innings, absorbing the loss. Freshman right-hander Chase Johnson pitched well in relief, giving up just two hits in five scoreless innings with four strikeouts.

Right-hander Alex Gillingham (2-2) went eight-plus innings for the win, scattering 11 hits with one walk and five strikeouts. He threw 132 pitches. Jacob Smigelski surrendered the home run to Gentile after getting the first two outs of the ninth and Ryan Hawthorne secured the final out for the save.

Cal Poly's top hitters were center fielder Bobby Crocker and second baseman Denver Chavez, each with three hits. Both drove in a run, as did right fielder Mitch Haniger with a groundout. Gentile added a double to his round-tripper.

Loyola Marymount was led by catcher Colton Plaia and third baseman Alex Guthrie, who both went 3-for-4. Koch drove in four runs with his home run and single.

The four-game series is even at a game apiece - Cal Poly won Friday's game 2-1 - and the series finale is Sunday at 1 o'clock.