 "Photo: Pedro Corona/Poly Post")
The Broncos’ baseball team took a break from conference play last weekend to host a series against the Academy of Art Urban Knights. Cal Poly swept the series wining both Saturday games 10-3 and 8-5, and Sunday’s game 13-8. A doubleheader was scheduled for Sunday, but the second game was never played.
The sweep was not much of a surprise seeing as the Urban Knights came into the series with a 0-26 record. The Urban Knights had a sliver of hope in Sunday’s game when they took an 8-6 lead in the top of the eighth.
“I knew as long as we were close web would be OK,” said Head Coach Mike Ashman. “I don’t think they had anyone else that could get us out after [Darnell Quinney].”
The Broncos answered back with seven runs in the bottom of the eighth to take back the lead and also add a nice cushion. Although aided by four walks, the inning was a great display of the Bronco bats. Four singles and a double helped move men around the bases, and a home run by junior first baseman Nick Tanos added three more RBI to his record.
The Broncos also went through five pitchers on Sunday, but junior right-hander Keith Powers would get the win for his solid performance through the 1 1/3 innings he pitched.
The win brings his record to 3-1.
The first game on Saturday was a victory for the Broncos, but a heartbreaker in another way.
Junior catcher Jordan Alcantar stepped up to the plate for his fourth at-bat of the season. The bases were loaded in the bottom of the fourth with the Broncos up 1-0. The books say he hit a three RBI single, but that’s not what really happened.
The ball soared over the fence for a grand slam. In the excitement of watching the ball sail through the air, Alcantar did not realize he passed senior center fielder Frank Klopp who was on first base. Due to this technicality, the umpire called Alcantar out at first.
“It would have been my first home run at Cal Poly, and it would have been a grand slam,” said Alcantar. “It would have been nice to run around the bases and see all my teammates at home.”
Alcantar also hit a double in the sixth, and got the chance to cross home plate off a single by sophomore right fielder Joe Villa.
The second game on Saturday was a little close, but the Broncos would not give the Urban Knights their first win of the season.
When the Broncos came to bat in the bottom of the sixth, the Urban Knights were up 5-2. After freshman third baseman Jenzen Torres was walked, junior designated hitter Richard McDowell got the inning started with a triple that brought Torres home. There would be three more walks and an Urban Knights error in the inning. Junior shortstop Erik Reidel’s double put two more runs on the board, and after scoring a total of six runs in the sixth the Broncos would leave the inning in the lead.
Freshman right-hander Geoff Broussard earned the win for the first game bringing his record to 3-1. Senior left-hander Brandon Mozley brought his record to 3-0 with the win in the second game, and junior right-hander Brad Wilson picked up his third save.
The Broncos travel to play Cal State Los Angeles in games on Thursday and Friday, and then bring the Golden Eagles back to Scolinos Field Saturday for a doubleheader.
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