Bergman delivers blanks in triumph

IRVINE — The Big West Conference-opening three-game series was supposed to be a battle between No. 10-ranked UC Irvine and No. 19-ranked Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

But after two games, including Saturday’s 11-3 Anteaters victory at Anteater Ballpark, the best duel so far has been between UCI starting pitchers Danny Bibona and Christian Bergman.

After Bibona shut down a Cal Poly team that had scored 74 runs in its previous five games (all lopsided victories) in Friday’s 5-2 UCI triumph, Bergman further frustrated the Mustang mashers, blanking them on five hits through eight innings, before handing the game over to the bullpen.

“I followed [Bibona] up pretty well today,” said a smiling Bergman after improving to 3-1 with what Coach Mike Gillespie said may have been the most commanding outing of his career. “We both kind of compete with each other. So, I guess we’ll go back at it next week [at No. 1-ranked Cal State Fullerton].”

“Bergman was really good,” Gillespie said of the right-hander who struck out four and did not issue a walk, throwing 98 pitches. “This [Cal Poly] team, I mean, they can really hit. If you shut them out and they only get four or five hits in eight innings, well you’ve really pitched. I thought that was the best I’ve ever seen Bergman pitch. I thought he mixed the slider and the change the best. And he had the best command of the fastball that I’ve seen him have. I thought he was really, really good.”

But Bergman was hardly the sole target of Gillespie’s praise.

“This was a good game today,” Gillespie said after the ’Eaters improved to 15-7, 2-0 in conference. “We’ve done pretty well overall this season, but we’ve really been looking for the first really complete overall good game. And this was a good one.”

Nine Anteaters had at least one hit and senior shortstop Ben Orloff paced four UCI hitters with multiple hits, going three for six with one run batted it. He also scored twice and had a team-high six assists. Orloff also made a sparkling play with his glove in the first inning, scooping a low throw from catcher Francis Larson, then quickly applying a tag to nail Cal Poly leadoff man Ryan Lee trying to steal second. It was only the second time Lee had been caught stealing in 15 attempts this season and, as it turned out, it was a foreboding omen for the Mustangs.

After Cal Poly scored two runs in the first Friday, they went 16 innings without plating another, until mustering three off reliever Matt Dufour in the ninth Saturday.

“I don’t see frustration [in Mustangs players], but how could you not be [frustrated],” Gillespie said. “I think [the Mustangs’ staff, led by former Orange Coast College player Larry Lee] has poise, as do the players. But I’m sure they’re disappointed. Who wouldn’t be?”

Cal Poly (17-6, 0-2) entered the series on an eight-game winning streak and was off to its best start since 1997.

But it is Irvine which is on the verge of a conference-opening sweep, which would be the first in a three-game series to open conference in school history. UCI opened 4-0 in the Southern California Baseball Assn. in 1983, but that involved three separate teams.

UCI won its first two conference games in 2007, 2004 and 2002, but dropped the series finale each time. That’s a trend Gillespie said he and his staff is fighting to avoid.

“We just had the little talk about it,” Gillespie said of his postgame address to his players in shallow left field. “I think it’s human nature to let down in this situation. We know [the Mustangs] are as competitive as anybody. When teams get to that third day, boy, there becomes this real sense of urgency, and I think that’s what we’ll see from them.”

UCI freshmen Ronnie Shaeffer and DJ Crumlich continue to show that sense of urgency as Big West rookies.

Shaeffer, a designated hitter, was two for three with three RBIs in the cleanup spot. Crumlich was two for four with three RBIs, while Larson, a junior, was two for four with one RBI to bolster the 14-hit attack.

UCI, which had averaged 5.4 runs in its first 17 games, has averaged 11 in its last five. The ’Eaters have also rapped out 72 hits during those five games, including four double-digit scoring outputs, to forge a 4-1 record.

Bergman, for one, appreciated the run support.

“I had command of four pitches for strikes, there was a little bit of luck in there, some good defense and a good offense, obviously,” Bergman said. “So, it was a good day all-around.”

The series concludes today at 1 p.m.

Big West Conference

UC Irvine 11, Cal Poly SLO 3

SCORE BY INNINGS

Leonard, Castner (5), Johnson (6) and Brayton, Hensley (8); Bergman, Dufour (9) and Larson, Donabedian (7). W – Bergman, 3-1. L – Leonard, 3-1. 2B – Gentile (CP), Shaeffer (UCI), Asaro (UCI). 3B – Ortez (CP).

BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at barry.faulkner@latimes.com.