Cal Poly Falls Twice to Wrap Cathedral City Classic

Sunday, February 27

Cathedral City, CA

9 am

9-1

LSU

2-12

Cal Poly

California

Cal Poly Falls Twice to Wrap Cathedral City Classic

2/27/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – The Cal Poly softball team led No. 20 LSU through six innings during Sunday-morning action at the Oregon State-hosted Cathedral City Classic, but a four-run seventh inning by the Tigers sent the Mustangs to a 7-4 defeat at the Big League Dreams Sports Park. Cal Poly completed tournament action during the afternoon with a 2-0 loss versus No. 14 California.

During Sunday's opener, LSU grabbed an early lead during the top of the first through left fielder Ashley Lagoni's run-scoring single up the middle.

Cal Poly (2-13) answered during the bottom half of the first as starting lefthander Anna Cahn singled through the right side of the infield to score freshman shortstop Kim Westlund with two outs.

The Tigers (12-5) grabbed a 3-1 lead during the top of the third through third baseman Tammy Wray's two-run homer. Once again, however, Cal Poly deadlocked the scoreline during the bottom half of the inning. Senior catcher Stephanie Correia (above) and Cahn produced successive one-out singles before LSU starting righthander Brittany Mack hit junior right fielder Nicole Lund with a pitch to load the bases. Mack then walked sophomore designated player Rebecca Patton to force home Correia before, two batters later, freshman third baseman Mariah Cochiolo drew a full-count walk off of Tigers reliever Megan Patterson to bring home freshman pinch runner Jen Walker.

The Mustangs produced just a solitary hit between the fourth and fifth innings before notching the go-ahead run during the sixth. With one out, Westlund singled up the middle before stealing second base. Patterson then struck out Mustang freshman left fielder Cami Brown before being removed in favor of Rachele Fico (4-4), who promptly delivered consecutive illegal pitches to score Westlund from second.

Patton (1-7) took over for Cahn in the fifth and retired six-consecutive LSU hitters before the Tigers broke through during the seventh. A fielder's choice by LSU pinch hitter Morgan Russell loaded the bases for Wray, who tied the game at 4-4 with a run-scoring single into center field. With two out, Patton issued a full-count walk to shortstop Juliana Santos to force home right fielder Tiffany Shaw for what proved to be the winning run. LSU catcher Lauren Houston then delivered a two-run double to cement the winning margin.

Westlund and Cahn each finished with two hits for Cal Poly, which totaled nine hits to LSU's seven.

During the second end of Cal Poly's doubleheader versus California, the Golden Bears scored the only run they needed during the first as third baseman Jace Williams produced a run-scoring hit. The Golden Bears doubled their advantage during the sixth as center fielder Frani Echavarria's fly ball to center field fell to plate Williams.

Cal Poly advanced just one baserunner past third against California starting righthander Jolene Henderson (9-1) until the seventh. With one down, Patton reached base following an error by shortstop Britt Vonk. Walker drew a walk two batters later and, with two out, junior pinch hitter Nora Sobczak singled to load the bases. Westlund, however, flew out to end the game.

Cal Poly continues action when opening play at the San Diego State-hosted Campbell/Cartier Classic on Friday, March 4 at 11:15 a.m. versus Houston.