Cal Poly can't complete sweep at Kansas State

Posted: Mar 9, 2013 7:30 PM by Eric Burdick

Sophomore right-hander Matt Wivinis pitched a complete-game seven-hitter, throwing just 95 pitches, as Kansas State salvaged one win in its three-game series against No. 21 Cal Poly with a 10-4 decision Saturday night in Tointon Family Stadium.

Cal Poly, which clinched the series with a sweep of Friday's doubleheader, 13-10 and 6-2, fell to 13-2 with Saturday's loss, snapping a six-game winning streak. Kansas State improved to 9-5.

Cal Poly led 3-1 in the second inning before Kansas State turned the game around with four runs in the fifth, two in the seventh and three more in the eighth.

Wivinis did not allow a walk and struck out five in improving to 2-0 on the year. He entered the game with a 5.28 ERA.

Cal Poly starter Bryan Granger (3-1) suffered his first loss of the year, allowing five runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings. Also a sophomore right-hander, Granger walked two and did not strike out a batter.

Junior third baseman Jimmy Allen doubled to drive in a run and Nick Torres singled to give Cal Poly a 2-0 lead in the first inning.

After Kansas State got one back in the bottom of the first, sophomore left fielder Alex Michaels doubled into the right-field corner to tally another run for a 3-1 Mustang advantage.

Michaels broke his left fibula sliding into third base on Peter Van Gansen's comebacker and may be lost for the season.

After Michaels' RBI double, Wivinis settled down and retired 12 Mustangs in a row. He gave up one more run in the seventh on a single to center by David Armendariz as Cal Poly trimmed the deficit to 5-4, but Wivinis was able to close the door on the Mustangs the rest of the way.

Allen and senior catcher Elliot Stewart each had two of Cal Poly's seven hits. Both of Stewart's hits were doubles.

Third baseman RJ Santigate singled three times for Kansas State while Ross Kivett, Shane Conlon, Jon Davis and Blair DeBord each added two hits as the Wildcats outhit Cal Poly 13-7.

The Mustangs had produced double-digit hits in their last three games, hitting .348. Cal Poly hit five home runs in Friday's doubleheader.

Playing 10 of its first 15 games on the road, Cal Poly will play 10 of its next 11 in Baggett Stadium, starting Tuesday night with San Jose State at 6 p.m. The Mustangs also host Notre Dame for a three-game weekend series Thursday through Saturday.