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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Held to just one run and three hits Friday night, Cal Poly exploded for 22 runs and an equal number of hits en route to a doubleheader sweep against Alabama in non-conference baseball games Saturday at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.

With the 16-7 and 6-2 victories, Cal Poly takes the series, two games to one, and will take a 2-1 record into the University of San Diego Tournament next weekend.

Alabama fell to 1-2.

In the opener, junior third baseman Brent Morel had three hits and knocked in three runs to lead the Mustangs’ 15-hit offensive attack. Sophomore shortstop Kyle Smith, senior second baseman Pat Pezet and sophomore catcher Wes Dorrell each added two hits for Cal Poly.

Junior southpaw Derrick Saito (1-0) pitched 5.2 innings for the win, slowing three runs and five hits with five strikeouts and three walks. Sophomore righty D.J.l Mauldin tossed the final 3.1 innings for a save, surrending just one earned run and three hits.

Cal Poly scored twice in the first inning on an RBI single by Morel and a wild pitch and took a 5-0 lead with three runs in the fourth. Smith’s bunt single knocked in the first run while a muffed throw allowed two more runs to cross the plate.

Each team scored twice in the sixth and Alabama brought the potential game-tying run to the plate in the bottom of the sixth with the bases loaded, but Mauldin induced Jeff Texada to pop up to second base, ending the threat.

The Mustangs then broke the game open with eight runs in the seventh, all unearned because of a two-out error at second base. Only five of Cal Poly’s 16 runs in the game were earned. 

It was Alabama’s most one-sided loss since an 11-2 defeat against LSU in 2004. The 16 runs were the most allowed by a Crimson Tide team since a 16-6 loss to Houston in the 2000 NCAA Tournament.

Sophomore Steven Fischback (1-0) earned the win in the nightcap with seven strong innings, giving up one earned run and four hits. He struck out a career-high 11 and walked only one.

Sophomore right-hander Kevin Castner pitched two scoreless frames in relief, recording four strikeouts.

Cal Poly jumped on Alabama starter Casey Kebodeaux for three runs in the first inning as junior center fielder Logan Schafer, Morel and Dorell all produced RBI singles. 

The Mustangs scored in the first inning of each game in the series.

Alabama scored twice off Fischback in the bottom of the first on an error and a passed ball, but the Mustangs tallied single runs in the third, fourth and fifth frames to pull away and Fischback settled down, allowing just two hits in his final six innings of work on the mound.

“We received great starting performances by Saito and Fischback,” said sixth-year Mustang head coach Larry Lee. “Saito had four pitches working for him and Fischback came back well after giving up two runs and two hits in the first inning.”

David Van Ostrand’s groundout produced the third-inning run, a sacrifice fly by Smith in the fourth gave Cal Poly a 5-2 cushion and Dorrell’s groundout in the fifth tallied the final run of the game.

Alabama won the series opener Friday, 10-1.

“I was real happy with the way we bounced back after playing so poorly Friday,” said Lee. “It’s difficult to sweep a doubleheader, especially on the road against a quality opponent like Alabama.

“This team grew up this weekend,” Lee added, “and the players learned what was expected of them. The returners understand our system. Now our newcomers got a first-hand look at how we like to do things.” 

For the series, Dorrell hit .556 (5 of 9) with a double and two RBIs.

Cal Poly will face San Diego State, the University of San Diego, Missouri and Fresno State for single games next Thursday through Sunday in San Diego.