Mustangs Drop Saturday Doubleheader at Cal State Fullerton

Saturday, April 16

Fullerton, CA

12 pm

6-27, 2-5

Cal State Fullerton

16-17, 5-2

Cal Poly

Cal State Fullerton

Mustangs Drop Saturday Doubleheader at Cal State Fullerton

4/16/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

FULLERTON, Calif. – Sophomore righthander Rebecca Patton produced the temporary go-ahead run for the Cal Poly softball team during the opening game of a Saturday afternoon doubleheader and senior lefthander Anna Cahn tossed a complete-game five-hitter during the nightcap, but the Mustangs dropped both contests versus Cal State Fullerton at Anderson Family Field, 3-2 and 3-0.

Patton walked just one hitter during the opening-game loss for Cal Poly, which saw a four-contest winning streak versus Cal State Fullerton snapped. Cal Poly, which entered play on Saturday having won seven-successive Big West Conference road series, completes its three-game set versus the Titans on Sunday, April 17 at 12 noon. GameTracker and audio (with Michael Martinez) links for that contest are above.

During Saturday's opening contest, Cal Poly (6-28, 2-6) loaded the bases during the top of the first inning, but Titans starting righthander Ari Cervantes (11-10) induced an inning-ending groundout from Mustang senior catcher Stephanie Correia. Cal State Fullerton (17-17, 6-2), in turn, capitalized during the bottom half of the first with center fielder Torrie Anderson singling home first baseman K.C. Craddick to provide the hosts a 1-0 lead.

The Titans returned during the second to load the bases with no outs. Patton, however, threw out designated player Tish Dedeaux at home following a fielder's choice from Lauren Mario before forcing left fielder Ashley Carter to fly out. During the ensuing sequence, Mario was doubled off first base to end the Cal State Fullerton threat.

Patton (4-15) returned to set down eight of the ensuing nine Titans she faced, but Cal Poly's offense was equally dormant as seven-straight Mustangs were retired until junior right fielder Nicole Lund led off the top of the sixth with a double to right center field. Cervantes followed by intentionally walking Cahn ahead of Correia, who laced a single through the legs of Craddick at first base to score Lund and deadlock the scoreline.

Patton (above) then provided herself and the Mustangs the advantage by singling into center field to plate Cahn for a 2-1 lead.

Cal State Fullerton, however, required just the next half inning to regain its lead. An error by Mustang first baseman Madi Vogelsang loaded the Titan bases with two outs for Carter, who produced an infield single to the right side to force home pinch runner Jena Rubio. During the scramble at first base to get Carter, Titan right fielder Leesa Harris scored from second to provide Cal State Fullerton the final margin of victory.

Patton finished with a team-best two hits for Cal Poly, which stranded 13 baserunners between both games.

During Saturday's nightcap, Cal State Fullerton grabbed the only lead of the game during the bottom of the first through a one-out, run-scoring single by Craddick.

After stranding two additional Titans during the second, however, Cahn faced just one Cal State Fullerton hitter over the minimum during the ensuing three innings.

Cal Poly's best chance to equalize came during the fourth. Cahn and Correia kickstarted the threat by producing successive one-out singles before, two batters later, Cochiolo slapped a base hit through the left side of the infield. With two Mustangs out, however, Cal State Fullerton starting righthander Katey Laban (4-4) forced Cal Poly freshman left fielder Jillian Andersen to ground out.

The Titans padded their advantage during the sixth as third baseman Nicole Johnson led off the inning with a homer to center field. A throwing error by Cahn later during the inning brought home catcher Ariel Tsuchiyama to finalize the scoreline.