May 15, 2010

Box Score

DAVIS, Calif - Sean Watson went eight innings and gave up only two earned runs on six hits, but Cal Poly scored four runs in the top of the ninth to take a 5-4 win, and the Big West series, from UC Davis Saturday at Dobbins Stadium.

UC Davis is now 20-26 overall and own a 4-13 mark in Big West play while Cal Poly improves to 17-29 on the year and 8-12 in conference action.

Watson struck out a season-high four batters and walked only one of the 32 batters he faced as he went for his longest outing of the season.

"Quality starts gave us a chance to win and a lead late in the game and that's all you can ask," said head coach Rex Peters. "He was over the 100 pitch limit and I don't know if he's done that all year - gone over 100 pitches - so we kept a close eye on him. He had a pretty good eighth inning so we decided to run him back out there for the ninth and see how he would do."

Watson totaled 121 pitches before coming out of the game in the ninth inning to pass his previous highest total of 103 against Cal State Bakersfield April 18.

UC Davis took a 3-0 lead in the first inning and remained in control of the game until the final frame. Justin Schafer and Scott Heylman hit back-to-back singles to reach base, then David Popkins loaded the bases with no outs when he was hit by a pitch. UC Davis then took advantage of two straight passed balls to score Schafer and Heylman. Popkins then scored on an RBI single by Scott Lyman before Cal Poly pitcher DJ Mauldin retired the next three batters to end the inning.

Watson retired the next six Cal Poly batters before giving up a single to Adam Melker in the fourth inning. After forcing two fly outs, Melker advanced to second on a passed ball, then came around to score on an RBI base hit by David Van Ostrand.

The 6-foot-9 lefty continued to work, giving up only one hit to the Mustangs over the next four innings before Mitch Haniger and Van Ostrand picked up consecutive base hits in the ninth. Haniger would score from second on Van Ostrand's single to bring the score to 4-2 in favor of UC Davis.

David Popkins would enter the game to replace Watson after Haniger's score, but walked Jordan Hadlock to put runners on first and second with one out. Nathan Slater then came in to replace Popkins and loaded the bases by giving up a single to Evan Busby.

Slater struck out Mustang second baseman Denver Chavez for the second out of the ninth inning, but walked a run around to narrow UC Davis' lead to only one run. Melker then hit a hard line drive up the middle to score both Busby and Hadlock and give Cal Poly its first, and only, lead of the game.

UC Davis' attempt to rally fell short as Cal Poly retired three of the four Aggie batters to hold on to the 5-4 win.

Slater moves to 2-4 on the season after picking up the loss. Mauldin now sits at 5-2 on the year after throwing the complete game in which he gave up four earned runs on nine hits while striking out three and walking two Aggie batters.

"We executed a hit-and-run early in the game to set that inning up for us then [Mauldin] lost his command and hit a guy to load up the bases," said Peters. "We had a couple good at bats with some guys on base to score a couple runs and they gave us a couple too with some wild pitches. Watson gave us a chance to win and we just couldn't finish it for him."

Popkins led UC Davis offensively, going 1-for-3 with a solo home run in the fifth and scoring twice while Lyman went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Scott Kalush was also 2-for-4 on the day.

For Cal Poly, Melker was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run while Van Ostrand finished 1-for-3 on the day with two RBI. Luke Yoder was 1-for-3 with an RBI and two stolen bases.

UC Davis and Cal Poly conclude the three-game series Sunday as the Aggies will honor four seniors in a pre-game ceremony.

Cal Poly (17-29, 8-12) 000 100 004 - 5 8 0
UC Davis (20-26, 4-13) 300 010 000 - 4 9 1

DJ Mauldin and Elliot Stewart, Jordan Hadlock (7); Sean Watson, David Popkins (9), Nathan Slater (9) and Scott Kalush.
HITTERS - Cal Poly: Luke Yoder, 1x3, RBI; Adam Melker, 2x4, 2 RBI; Mitch Haniger, 1x4; David Van Ostrand, 3x4, 2 RBI; Evan Busby, 1x4. UC Davis: Justin Schafer, 1x3; Scott Heylman, 1x5; David Popkins, 1x3, RBI, HR; Scott Lyman, 2x4, RBI; Eric Johnson, 1x4; Paul Politi, 1x4; Scott Kalush, 2x4.