SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- Kevin Corriea pitched three scorless innings of relief and Nathan Choate recorded the last out as Cal Poly defeated Sacramento State, 9-5, Friday night at Baggett Stadium.
The win improved the Mustangs to 27-16 overall and 5-2 in the Big West Conference. The Hornets dropped to 18-27 overall and 2-8 in league games.
Correia picked up his fifth win of the year (5-1), the best on the Mustangs staff this year. Choate picked up his sixth save of the year, facing just one batter.
Cal Poly put two on the board in the first inning. Junior designated hitter Bryan Gant and freshman center fielder Billy Saul led off with ack to back singles. They scored three batters later on junior first baseman Scott Sheldon's two-out double.
The Mustangs added two more in the third inning when Gant led off ith a single and scored two batters later on Kevin Tillman's double. Tillman came around on a Sheldon RBI double down the left field line.
The Hornets answered in the top of the fourth. Catcher Joe Evans led off with single. The next batter, designated hitter Dave Lusk, belted a home run along the left field line to make the score 4-3.
Sacramento State took the lead in the sixth with a combination of singles and walks. Lusk had a one-out base hit. Two batters later, second baseman Bobby Ciani singled, followed by a base hit by right fielder Mario Celillo to score Lusk. Shortstop Tito Barba walked to load the bases and center fielder Aurelio Jackson walked to force Ciani in to take a 5-4 lead.
The lead did not last for long as Cal Poly had a four-run rally in the bottom of the sixth. After the leadoff batter was retired, sophomore shortstop Scott Anderson was hit by a pitch. Gant and Saul had back-to-back singles, with Anderson coming around on Saul's hit. Kevin Tillman cleared the bases with a triple down the right field line. He scored when Kyle Wilson doubled to give the team an 8-5 edge.
The Mustangs added one more in the eighth for insurance. Gant was the offensive star, going 3-3 with three runs. He was on base all five times he appeared at the plate.
Benny Gonzalez was credited with the loss (3-6) for the Hornets. The Sacramento State offense was paced by freshman Bibby Ciani. The Sacramento, Calif., native went 3-for-4.
