Mustangs win first weekend series of 2017

The start to 2017 has been rocky for the Cal Poly baseball team. Over the weekend, Larry Lee’s team used great pitching from Erich Uelmen and Spencer Howard to win the three-game series from Wichita State two games to one. Cal Poly’s record is now 7-12 overall, with four home games against Nebraska and a one-day trip to Fresno standing between the Mustangs and the start of their Big West schedule. 

Starting pitchers Uelmen and Howard struck-out 21 total batters between them en route to back-to-back wins against the Shockers on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, Wichita State scored first and held Cal Poly hitters to 

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Cal Poly’s Nick Meyer doubled with one out, but Wichita State pitcher Zach Lewis struck out two straight Mustangs. Cal Poly never really threatened after that. 

Cameron Schneider, pitching for the injured Bobby Ay, showed-out well for Cal Poly, going six strong innings, giving up just one earned run and striking out five. But the Mustang bats couldn’t respond in-kind. It was the sixth time Cal Poly has been shut-out this season. 

Michael Clark has been really good so far for Larry Lee’s Mustangs. By Owen Main

Michael Clark pitched in all three games in the Wichita State series. The sophomore right hander has been something of a revelation out of the pen for Cal Poly, becoming their most reliable right handed pitcher. As the season goes on, it seems that Clark and Trent Shelton are going to be the guys Larry Lee probably trusts the most to back-up the starting pitchers. 

The two wins against the Shockers put a Cal Poly win streak at four games, the longest of the young season for the Mustangs, before it was snapped Sunday aternoon.

Cal Poly continues to struggle fielding the ball. Though they were error-free on Saturday, they committed three errors in Friday night’s win and after the weekend have now racked-up 32 errors in just 19 games. Defense matters a little less when pitchers get more of their outs via strikeout. 

After losing to Wichita State on Sunday, the Mustangs will look to bounce back against Darrin Erstad’s Nebraska Cornhuskers. The four-game series against Nebraska includes one game each on Thursday and Friday nights and a doubleheader on Saturday, weather permitting. 

The Nebraska series comes in the midst of Finals Week at Cal Poly, with spring break following. Don’t be surprised if Lee’s team uses spring break to sharpen-up and looks a little better to start Big West play.