SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (Interstat) — Jack Pezzolo and four relievers combined on a five-hit shutout after the first inning as the UC Davis Aggies salvaged the finale of a three-game Big West Conference series with an 8-2 victory over the Cal Poly Mustangs on Monday evening at Baggett Stadium.

The Aggies, who dropped one-run and extra-inning decisions to the Mustangs on Saturday and Sunday, broke open a tight game with a three-run seventh inning and pulled away late to improve to 10-11 overall and 1-2 in conference play. Cal Poly fell to 14-8 and 2-1.

The most critical phase of the game came in the middle innings, after Cal Poly had taken an early lead. The Mustangs scored their only runs on sacrifice flies in the first and sixth innings but were otherwise stifled by a dominant performance from the UC Davis bullpen. The Aggies’ relievers — Matt Barnes, Peter Storjohann, Tyler Wood and Rowen Barnes — allowed just one unearned run on three hits over the final five innings, striking out five.

Pezzolo, named the top star for UC Davis, set the tone with four scoreless innings of relief to earn the win. He entered in the fifth and allowed no hits and one unearned run, walking two and striking out two. His outing continued a strong run of form, following 2 2/3 scoreless innings against UC Santa Barbara on March 15.

Cal Poly starter Carson Turnquist took the loss, surrendering two runs on four hits over five innings. He struck out five.

The game was a 1-1 pitchers’ duel until the Aggies broke through in the sixth. Tyler Howard doubled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Alex McNeal to give UC Davis a 2-1 lead.

The Aggies then delivered the decisive blow an inning later. Kai Mault led off the seventh with a double, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a bunt single by Damian Story. Howard followed with a two-run triple to left-center, plating Story and Riley Wright to push the lead to 5-1.

UC Davis added three insurance runs in the eighth. Story drove in another run with a bunt single, and Korey Williams capped his two-RBI afternoon with a two-run double down the right-field line.

Howard and Williams each drove in two runs for UC Davis, while Mault went 3 for 5 with two runs scored. Tyler Wood was exceptional in relief for the Aggies, throwing two perfect innings with one strikeout.

For Cal Poly, Jake Hoiland had a double and scored a run. The Mustangs managed only five hits and went 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position.

The Aggies next travel to face Pacific on Tuesday. Cal Poly visits Loyola Marymount on Wednesday.