By Christa Collins
The Cal Poly baseball team was quite busy, playing three teams
in the past two weeks. They played two in conference series and one
NCAA double-header.
In the most recent series, Cal Poly hosted the Sonoma State
Seawolves in a four-game series at Scolinos field. The Broncos
would split the series winning the Friday 14-7 and the second game
on Saturday 7-6. Sonoma would come out on top in the first game on
Saturday 6-4 and Sunday’s game 6-0.
The first game was a confident start, although the Broncos ended
up splitting the series. A big contributor to the win was senior
center fielder Frank Klopp Klopp’s grand slam in the second inning
was the third of his career.
“It was the best feeling of my life,” said Klopp. “I didn’t even
think it was going to get out.”Senior right-hander Ryan Screnar was
awarded the win bringing his record to 3-2, and junior right-hander
Brad Wilson picked up his first save of the season.
Cal Poly couldn’t pull together a win in the first game of the
double-header, and the second game also looked bleak. The Broncos
managed to tie it up in the bottom of the sixth, with a score of
6-6. Senior right-hander Brandan King held off the Seawolves for
one more inning, leaving the Bronco bats to do work.
Junior first baseman Nick Tanos stepped up to the plate with a
job to do. Although hoping for a solid double, Tanos got the
opportunity to smack it over the fence.
“I got a ball up in the zone, hit it and it went pretty far,”
said Tanos. “It was good to get the win.”
As he left the plate for a celebratory lap around the bases, the
roaring dugout emptied onto the field to welcome him home.
Before the break, Cal Poly met up with Cal State Dominguez Hills
for the second time this season. In the first match up Cal Poly
split the series, but the second time around the Broncos took the
series, losing only one.
The series started with a crushing 21-4 loss on Thursday, March
12 in Toro territory. The Broncos bounced back Friday with a final
score of 18-11, adding another road win to their record. The team
came home to host a double-header Saturday. The Broncos pulled out
two close wins, delivering a 3-2 loss in the first game and 6-5
loss in the second.
Friday’s win was a great team effort with nearly every player
contributing at least one RBI. Senior catcher Chris Brehm topped
the list with six RBI for the game. Brehm, Tanos, and freshman
designated hitter Jenzen Torres upped the score with a home run
apiece.
The double-header success was an exquisite display of
situational hitting. Both games came to the very end with the score
tied.
Tanos came through with a single in the bottom of the ninth in
the first game, bringing junior second baseman Marcus Makia across
the plate.
Klopp would be the one to come through at the plate in the
second game, bringing junior third baseman Richard McDowell
home.
In between the two conference series the team traveled to
Arizona to play two non-conference games against the Grand Canyon
University ‘Lopes.
The ‘Lopes did not put up any sort of a battle in the
double-header they hosted on March 22. Three runs would be the
‘Lopes top score against the Broncos.
The first game, with a final score of 7-3, was fairly quiet
after the first inning. The Broncos started off scoring five runs
in the top of the first. The ‘Lopes put up three runs in the
bottom, but that would be the only time they put numbers on the
board.
The second game was a complete andtotal surrender, as the ‘Lopes
could only get one runner across the plate. The final score was
10-1.
“It’s good, we’ve been playing well,” said Head Coach Mike
Ashman in response to adding two more wins to the team’s overall
away record.
The Broncos will host the Cal State San Bernardino Coyotes at
Scolinos Field on Thursday and Friday, and then hop over to Coyote
country for a double-header on Saturday.
Reach Christa Collins at sports@thepolypost.com
Christa Collins/Poly Post
Broncos battle CCAA opponents
