College Roundup: Gerber’s first start is a smashing success for Cuesta

With Cuesta College’s baseball starting rotation struggling at times this season, head coach Bob Miller was looking for someone to step up and fill the gap. Miller may have found his man.

Phillip Gerber tossed a complete game, three-hit shutout as Cuesta beat Orange Coast 1-0 on Tuesday in Costa Mesa.

“We were looking for someone to give us a push,” Miller said. “Our rotation has been inconsistent and we haven’t been scoring very many runs either.”

Gerber’s sidearm delivery made him more of an attractive reliever for his change of pace. But with the rotation needing a shakeup, Miller said he was looking to explore other options.

“We didn’t know if he could get hitters out more than once through the order,” Miller said. “That was the question as to why he hasn’t been in the rotation. His numbers were very good coming into the game, a low 2 ERA, less than a hit per inning pitched and a 5-to-1 strikeout to walk ratio. He definitely made the most of it today.”

Gerber struck out three, walked two and hit a batter.

Michael Camporeale provided all the offense Cuesta (13-12) needed, hitting a solo home run in the second inning. He had three of the Cougars’ six hits, including a double.

Fresno State 7, Cal Poly 5

Cal Poly lost a pair of one-run leads and eventually fell to Fresno State on the road.

The Mustangs, who have dropped 13 of 15, led 1-0 and 3-2 early before the Bulldogs (17-12) took the lead for good with three runs in the fifth.

Luke Yoder had two hits and scored twice for Cal Poly (8-19), and Matt Jensen added a hit and three RBI.

Ross Brayton had a pinch-hit, solo home run for Cal Poly, his second of the season.

Kyle Anderson (1-4) took the loss, allowing seven earned runs in five innings.

Eugene Wright pitched three scoreless innings of relief, striking out two.

FOOTBALL

Cal Poly coaching moves

Cal Poly announced the hiring of two new assistant coaches Tuesday.

Josh Brown, who spent last season as the defensive quality control coach at the University of Kansas, has been hired to coach the inside linebackers.

Brown, who played football at San Luis Obispo High, graduating in 1994, will serve as Cal Poly’s special teams coordinator as well.

The Mustangs also brought in former Weber State wide receivers coach Steve Cox to work with the outside linebackers and nickel backs.

Leaving Cal Poly are Adam Waugh and Kyle Shotwell.

Waugh left after one year to take the defensive secondary coaching job at Louisiana-Monroe while Shotwell resigned in order to pursue other interests.

Defensive coordinator Greg Lupfer, who coached linebackers last fall, will take over the coaching duties of the defensive backs.

Cox leaves Weber State after coaching All-American wide receiver Tim Toone, a possible late-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.

Cox has a plethora of coaching experience, including a stint at Auburn and as a 17-year head coach at Cabrillo College, compiling a 95-86-3 overall record including five conference titles and six bowl game appearances.

WRESTLING

Azevedo honored

Cal Poly head coach John Azevedo was named Pac-10 Coach of the Year by D1CollegeWrestling.net.

The Mustangs finished seven points shy of conference champion Oregon State and had two wrestlers earn All-American honors for the first time in six years as Chase Pami finished second at 157 pounds, and Boris Novachkov took seventh at 133.

Also honored was Cal Poly senior Eric Maldonado, who was named to the Pac-10 All-Academic second team.