No. 20 Cal Poly used a five-run third inning to down No. 17 Notre Dame 6-2 Thursday night at Baggett Stadium in San Luis Obispo. Mustang starting pitcher Joey Wagman (4-1) pitched his first career complete game and struckout a career-high 12 in the victory. The senior retired 19 of the final 21 Irish batters to end the game.
The Fighting Irish (10-5) took an early 3-1 lead after plating a run in the top of the second and two more in the top of the third, but the offensive explosion in the bottom of the third gave the Mustangs (15-2) a lead they would never give up.
Irish starting pitcher Sean Fitzgerald (1-1) suffered his first loss of the season after allowing six earned runs on eight hits in 3.1 innings. The big blow was a three-run home run by Cal Poly designated hitter Brian Mundell.
Three Irish relievers combined to shut the Mustangs down for the final 4.2 innings. Matt Ternowchek replaced Fitzgerald in the fourth and went on to fire 3.1 scoreless innings while allowing just four hits with a pair of strikeouts.
Notre Dame leadoff man Frank DeSico collected his 200th career hit with a leadoff single in the first inning. It was one of two hits on the night for the senior. Eric Jagielo and Trey Mancini each had two hits as well. Jagielo, Mancini and Phil Mosey each had single RBIs.
Cal Poly is off to the program's best start since 1997. Game two of the three-game series is Thursday night at 6 p.m. PT. The Irish send senior pitcher Adam Norton (4-0) to the mound.
