Mustangs Drop Home Doubleheader versus Notre Dame

Sunday, March 13

1 pm

3-18

Notre Dame

13-2

Notre Dame

Cal Poly

Mustangs Drop Home Doubleheader versus Notre Dame

3/13/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Mustang starting righthander Rebecca Patton allowed just two hits through her initial five innings of work during the Cal Poly softball team's Sunday home opener at Bob Janssen Field, but consecutive solo home runs by Notre Dame third baseman Heather Johnson and second baseman Dani Miller during the sixth helped provide the Fighting Irish a 4-1 victory. Notre Dame cemented its doubleheader sweep of the Mustangs with a 2-0 victory during the nightcap.

During Sunday's opener, Cal Poly scored its only run of the day during the bottom of the first as Patton drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs to force home freshman shortstop Kim Westlund. Cal Poly's top chance to build upon its lead came during the third as junior right fielder Nicole Lund followed senior catcher Stephanie Correia's leadoff single with a base hit of her own. Notre Dame right fielder Amy Buntin mishandled Lund's single, but Cal Poly freshman Jillian Andersen – running for Correia – was thrown out at home plate trying to take advantage of the Notre Dame error.

Patton allowed only one Notre Dame baserunner to reach third during her initial five innings and faced just one hitter over the minimum between the third and fifth. However, Johnson and Miller provided Notre Dame the lead in quick succession with two outs during the sixth and the Fighting Irish added two in the seventh to secure victory.

Despite the loss, Patton (above) finished with five strikeouts.

During Sunday's second game, Notre Dame (14-2) notched the only runs it needed during the second as first baseman Jackie Bowe and starting righthander Laura Winter (6-0) drew bases-loaded walks against Mustang starting righthander Trista Thomas (1-2).

Senior lefthander Anna Cahn pitched the final five and two-thirds innings in relief and limited the Fighting Irish to just two hits while striking out three. Cahn, who retired 11 of the initial 12 batters she faced, failed to yield a walk.

The Mustangs, however, suffered similar scoring problems. Cal Poly's best chance to break through versus Winter came during the third, as freshman third baseman Mariah Cochiolo and sophomore center fielder Whitley Gerhart led off the inning with successive hits. A Westlund groundout moved both players into scoring position, but Cochiolo was caught in a rundown while attempting to score on the play. Mustang junior left fielder Nora Sobczak then struck out to cancel any threat.

The Mustangs continue action at the March 19-20 Stanford-hosted Louisville Slugger Classic. Cal Poly opens competition on Saturday, March 19 versus UNLV at 9 a.m. and Iowa State at 1:15 p.m.