SAN LUIS OBISPO – Funny that in a game that saw 19 runs and 26 hits, it was a pitcher who stood out the most on Saturday night at Baggett Stadium.
UCSB’s Greg Davis pitched four superb innings – striking out the final four batters he faced – to help the Gauchos secure a thrilling 10-9 victory over Cal Poly in a Blue-Green Rivalry game. The junior allowed just one hit, to the first batter he faced, in four outstanding innings, striking out five without walking a batter to allow UCSB to come back and beat the Mustangs and snap a four-game losing skid.
Davis (1-0) was helped as UCSB scored twice in the eighth inning to tie the game and Sean Williams’ two-out single in the ninth proved to be the game-winner for the Gauchos.
UCSB is now 13-12 overall and 1-1 in the Big West. Cal Poly is 10-20, 2-3.
The Gauchos took a quick 6-0 lead in the first inning as the first three batters all reached, loading the bases against Cal Poly starter D.J. Mauldin. Trevor Whytesingled in a run before Beck Wheeler and Mark Haddow each followed with run-scoring hits of their own, Wheeler’s going for two runs. Ryan Tregoning added a two-run hit for the Gauchos’ half-dozen runs to open the game.
However, UCSB starter Nick Capito, the reigning Big West Pitcher of the Week, wasn’t able to sustain it. Capito, who became the first pitcher since James Garcia in 2001 to throw consecutive complete games, went just five innings, allowing nine runs (six earned) on 11 hits. The lefty allowed three doubles, three triples and a home run.
Luckily for the Gauchos, Davis was there for the rescue.
The junior from Huntington Beach came in to quell any further Mustang offense, allowing the Gauchos to rally from a 9-7 deficit.
Davis extended his scoreless innings streak to 10 innings over his past five outings. In that time Davis has struck out 12 hitters while allowing just four hits and no walks.
In the eighth inning, pinch hitter Brett Fick and leadoff hitter Gunnar Terhune each walked before Sean Williams reached on a bunt single to load the bases. Matt Valaika singled up the middle off Mark DeVincenzi to tie the game.
In the ninth, Williams singled up the middle with two out and runners on first and second for the game-winner. Davis shut the door by striking out the side – all swinging.
The Gauchos will conclude its series on Sunday at 11 a.m. in a game moved up two hours due to pending rain. The game can be heard on AM 1490
