Runs were hard to come by for both Seattle University and Cal Poly, but the Mustangs were able to take advantage of a Redhawk error and hold on for a 2-1 victory Friday night at Baggett Stadium.
The game was scoreless until the bottom of the fifth inning, when Cal Poly catcher Chris Hoo earned a one-out single and John Schuknecht drew a walk. With two outs, Tim Wise was able to reach on an error, loading the bases for Denver Chavez, whose double to left-center field drove in both Hoo and Schuknecht.
That would be the only two runs allowed by Seattle U starter Andrew Olson (Enumclaw, Wash.), who gave up just three hits and two walks in seven innings of work, striking out eight Cal Poly batters along the way. Ben Ruff (Fife, Wash.) faced the minimum three batters in the eighth, as Chavez walked but was caught stealing.
In the ninth inning, Sean Narby (Auburn, Wash.) advanced to second base on an error, and Grant Newton (Bend, Ore.) followed with a single to put runners on the corners with one out. Nick Latta (Tacoma, Wash.) hit into a fielder's choice, scoring Narby, but Landon Cray (Chimacum, Wash.) struck out to end the game.
Cal Poly (5-0) received solid pitching from both starter Joey Wagman and reliever Reed Reilly. Wagman overcame early control problems, as he walked four Redhawks in the first two innings, to pitch six scoreless innings with two hits and five walks allowed while striking out eight. Reilly gave up the unearned run in the ninth inning, but picked up the save with three innings of three-hit relief.
Nobody on either team earned more than one hit as the two teams combined for just eight hits during the night.
Seattle University (1-4) looks for an improved offensive effort in the second game of the weekend series at Cal Poly Saturday, Feb. 23, starting at 6 p.m.