IRVINE (Interstat) — UC San Diego’s Austin Bowker overcame a rough recent outing to pitch the Tritons to a 12-2 victory over Cal Poly on Saturday at Anteater Ballpark, snapping a two-game skid and evening the season series at two wins apiece.

Bowker allowed two earned runs on six hits over six and two-thirds innings, striking out three and walking one. He entered the game having surrendered five earned runs in one and one-third innings against Cal State Fullerton on May 16. The right-hander retired 10 of the first 11 batters he faced after the Mustangs grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the first.

Cal Poly struck early against Bowker. With one out, Nick Garza singled up the middle, moved to second on a walk to Ryan Tayman and scored on a single through the left side by Brody Hoiland. Tayman later came home on a walk to Caden Downing, but the inning ended when Gavin Spiridonoff popped out with the bases loaded.

The Mustangs managed only two more hits through the next four innings. Bowker worked around a single in the second and a single in the fifth, and his defense turned a double play in the third. He exited after a leadoff walk in the seventh, having given his team a chance to erase the early deficit.

UC San Diego answered quickly in the bottom of the second. Alex Leopard tripled to right field and scored on a single by Tony Martinez. Nick Costello walked, and Nick Widelski singled to drive in Martinez. After a sacrifice bunt, Anthony Potestio delivered a sacrifice fly to tie the game. Widelski then stole home to give the Tritons a 4-2 lead.

The score remained 4-2 until the bottom of the fifth. Cal Poly starter Josh Volmerding had pitched four scoreless innings, but the Mustangs turned to Troy Cooper to begin the fifth. Cooper walked the first batter, allowed a wild pitch, then surrendered an RBI single to Potestio. After another wild pitch, Chris Downs relieved Cooper and escaped further damage with two strikeouts and a foul out, but the Tritons led 5-2.

Gavin Spiridonoff cut the deficit to 5-3 with a solo home run to left field in the top of the seventh, his only hit of the day. It was the last real threat Cal Poly mustered. Kayden Henson relieved Bowker with two outs in the seventh and retired the only batter he faced.

The game broke open in the bottom of the seventh. Cal Poly’s bullpen unraveled as the Tritons sent 10 men to the plate. Thomas Maher drew a leadoff walk, advanced on three wild pitches and scored on a single by Adam Klepsch. Klepsch stole second, moved to third on a balk and scored on a single by Gabe Camacho. After a fielder’s choice, Martinez singled to drive in Camacho. Costello walked, and after a pitching change, Nick Widelski walked to force in another run. When the inning ended, UC San Diego led 9-3.

The Tritons added three more runs in the eighth. Potestio was hit by a pitch, Klepsch singled, and Camacho doubled to drive in Potestio. Jack Allen grounded out to score Klepsch, and Leopard doubled to plate Camacho, making it 12-3 before Cal Poly’s final at-bat.

Ryan Tayman doubled with one out in the eighth for the Mustangs, but he was left stranded. Chris Downs took the loss for Cal Poly, allowing four earned runs in two and one-third innings. The Mustangs fell to 35-22 overall, while UC San Diego improved to 27-27.

The game was the second of a three-game Big West series, with the finale scheduled later Saturday at Anteater Ballpark. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Cal Poly 8, UC San Diego 7, and Interstat’s ELO system gave Cal Poly a 62.80 percent probability to win.