Utes Drop Two at Cal Poly To Open Season

Saturday, January 27

San Louis Obispo, Calif.

1:00 PM MT

University of Utah

Cal Poly Slo

1/27/2001 12:00 AM | Baseball

Jan. 27, 2001

Box Score

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIF. -

The University of Utah baseball team lost both ends of a double-header on Saturday to the Cal Poly Mustangs. The Mustangs took game one 6-5, then completed the sweep with a 5-3 win in game two.

In game one, Cal Poly jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first after a lead-off double, and a sacrifice bunt. Then starting pitcher David Ebright hit the next two hitters, setting up a two-run single by Kevin Tillman.

The Utes bounced back in the third with a two-run double by Nate Weese, then took a 4-3 lead in the fourth on Mike Westfall's RBI single. Cal Poly responded with two in the fifth and one in the sixth to lead 6-4 after six innings.

The Utes had two on and nobody out in the seventh, but failed to score after Cal Poly reliever Greg Bochy struck out two and got Westfall to ground out. Bochy was credited with the win, while Ryan Barrera got the loss in relief.

Donald Hawes led Utah with his 3-for-4 game including three RBI. Adam Castleton and Nate Weese also had three hits apiece.

Game two saw the Utes get only four hits and none after the sixth inning. They took the lead in the first on a fielding error by Tillman of Cal Poly. In that inning the Utes didn't get a hit, but took advantage of a hit batter and the error.

Cal Poly took the lead for good in the third and pushed the lead to 4-1 after five innings. In the sixth Utah got to within one at 4-3 on back-to-back doubles by Castleton and Brit Pannier along with an RBI single by Weese. That single by Weese was the last hit the Utes would get.

Tyler Fitch picked up the win for the Mustangs, while Jon Lewis got the loss. Lewis pitched 4.1 innings, allowing five hits and four runs (three earned). He also recorded six strike outs.

Castleton finished the double-header 4-for-6 with three doubles, two runs scored, and an RBI.

The two teams will wrap-up the three-game series on Sunday at 12 p.m. (MST).