Cal Poly Suffers Slim Setbacks versus Nationally-Ranked Foes

Saturday, February 26

Cathedral City, CA

12:30 pm

2-11

Washington

13-0

Cal Poly

Washington

Cal Poly Suffers Slim Setbacks versus Nationally-Ranked Foes

2/26/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – Senior lefthander Anna Cahn struck out seven Oklahoma hitters during the Cal Poly softball team's opening game at the Cathedral City Classic on Saturday morning and homered during the second game of the program's doubleheader, but the Mustangs dropped both ends of the twinbill at Big League Dreams Sports Park, falling, respectively, versus the sixth-ranked Sooners (4-2) and No. 7 Huskies (5-3).

During Saturday's opening game versus the sixth-ranked Sooners (12-5), Cal Poly (2-11) collected just a solitary single from freshman second baseman Ashley Romano during the opening two innings before breaking through versus Oklahoma starting lefthander Allee Allen during the top of the third. Sophomore center fielder Whitley Gerhart opened the inning with a single before a two-base throwing error by Allen on a sacrifice bunt attempt by freshman shortstop Kim Westland placed two Mustangs in scoring position. Freshman left fielder Cami Brown followed with a single to load the bases before Cal Poly's leading hitter entering play on Saturday, senior catcher Stephanie Correia, produced a sacrifice fly to right field to plate Gerhart. Senior Anna Cahn then followed with another sacrifice fly to left field to score Westlund and provide Cal Poly a 2-0 advantage.

Cahn allowed just one Sooner into scoring position during the first two innings before allowing a leadoff infield single to Oklahoma center fielder Destinee Martinez to open the third. After striking out second baseman Cierra Hughes, Cahn walked first baseman Brittany Williams before yielding a three-run homer to catcher Jessica Shults.

Cahn returned to retire the Oklahoma side during the fourth and fifth innings, but the Mustangs themselves placed just one runner on base during the remainder of the game. The Sooners added their final run during the sixth with right fielder Haley Nix scoring on a throwing error by Mustang junior right fielder Nicole Lund.

Despite allowing just four hits, Cahn fell to 1-4.

During Saturday's second contest versus No. 7 Washington (13-0), the Huskies took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first through shortstop Jenn Salling's run-scoring double before Cahn deadlocked the score in the top of the second with her Mustang-leading fifth homer of the 2011 campaign.

Washington, however, improved its lead to 3-1 during the bottom half of the second following a run-scoring triple from Salling and a run-plating double by first baseman Niki Williams.

The Huskies added two additional runs during the fourth before the Mustangs composed a late rally during their half of the sixth. Gerhart drew a walk to lead off the inning before Westlund singled. The pair then advanced into scoring position after an illegal pitch by Washington reliever Jenna Clifton, who further loaded the bases after plunking Correia. Two batters later and with two out, Lund singled into center field to score both Gerhart and Westlund and slice the Husky lead to 5-3.

Clifton found herself removed from the lineup after walking Mustang starting righthander Rebecca Patton (1-6) to again load the bases. However, Washington reliever Whitney Jones promptly induced a pop up from Romano to end the Mustang threat.

Cal Poly returned during the top of the seventh with leadoff singles by freshman third baseman Mariah Cochiolo and junior pinch hitter Nora Sobczak, making her return to the Mustang lineup after sustaining an opening-weekend injury. Westlund and Brown, however, flew out and grounded out, respectively. With two down and two in scoring position, Correia grounded out to end the affair.

Cal Poly completes Cathedral City Classic action on Sunday, Feb. 27 versus No. 20 LSU at 9 a.m. and No. 14 California at 1 p.m.