Mustangs Drop Series Finale versus UC Santa Barbara, 5-2

Sunday, April 10

3 pm

6-26, 0

UC Santa Barbara

18-18, 0

UC Santa Barbara

Cal Poly

Mustangs Drop Series Finale versus UC Santa Barbara, 5-2

4/10/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Freshman first baseman Mariah Cochiolo belted her first collegiate home run on Sunday afternoon, but the Cal Poly softball program dropped the final outing of a three-game series versus UC Santa Barbara at Bob Janssen Field, 5-2.

Cal Poly, which suffered just its third home sweep by a Big West Conference opponent during the previous seven seasons after UC Santa Barbara won both ends of Saturday's doubleheader, finished just feet away from tying Sunday's scoreline during the bottom of the seventh. After junior center fielder Nora Sobczak trimmed Cal Poly's deficit to the 5-2 finale by singling home Cochiolo with two outs, Mustang freshman left fielder Jillian Andersen reached safely with an infield single that placed two Mustangs on base.

However, junior right fielder Nicole Lund flew out to Gaucho left fielder Brooke Putich on the warning track to end the matchup.

UC Santa Barbara (18-18, 4-2) opened Sunday's scoring during the first as shortstop Keilani Jennings dumped a two-run double into the right field gap to plate second baseman Kathryn Pilpil and center fielder McKenzie Kane.

The Gauchos threatened once again during the second with catcher Lainey DePompa and Pilpil reaching base with singles. Mustang starting righthander Rebecca Patton (4-14), however, struck out Gaucho right fielder Allison Taylor to pull Cal Poly out of danger.

The Gauchos added to their total during the fifth with first baseman Lauren Boser doubling down the right field line to plate Jennings. A two-out throwing error by shortstop Kim Westlund later during the inning on a ball slapped by designated player Katie McWhirter brought home Boser to provide UC Santa Barbara a 4-0 advantage.

The Mustangs responded during the bottom half of the fifth with Cochiolo (above) launching her first career homer over the left field wall. Sophomore third baseman Shea Williams followed with her first hit of the season. With one down, however, and freshman Cami Brown at second pinch running for Williams, UC Santa Barbara starting righthander Krista Cobb (8-9) induced a flyout from Sobczak and a groundout from Andersen to close out the Mustang threat.

Cal Poly (6-26, 2-4) continues Big West play with a three-game series at Cal State Fullerton April 16-17. The series opens with a 12 noon doubleheader on Saturday, April 16.