Patton, Mustangs Rally to Defeat Long Beach State, 5-4

Saturday, April 23

12 pm

7-31, 0

Long Beach State

30-14, 0

Long Beach State

Cal Poly

Patton, Mustangs Rally to Defeat Long Beach State, 5-4

4/23/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Sophomore righthander Rebecca Patton tossed a complete game and swatted her first home run of the season – a two-run shot during the sixth inning that pulled the Cal Poly softball team back into Saturday's series finale versus Long Beach State – as the Mustangs edged the 49ers at Bob Janssen Field in eight innings, 5-4.

The Mustangs trailed entering the bottom half of the sixth, 4-2. With one out, however, Mustang senior catcher Stephanie Correia lashed a single up the middle of the infield and with freshman Cami Brown on to pinch run, Patton fired her two-run shot over the left field fence to tie the game.

The 49ers (30-14, 8-4) left two runners on base during the top of the seventh before threatening again in the eighth, but Mustang center fielder Nora Sobczak threw out 49ers pinch runner Brooke Bell at home plate to preserve the tie.

Cal Poly (7-31, 3-9), contesting its first extra-inning game since an opening-day loss against nationally-ranked Arizona State, enjoyed junior right fielder Nicole Lund drawing a full-count walk to lead off the bottom half of the eighth. Senior designated player Anna Cahn, facing another full count from 49ers reliever Erin Jones-Wesley (16-5), then reached following a fielding error by Long Beach State shortstop Alisha Rosen. Jones-Wesley recovered to strike out Correia and Patton with just seven pitches, but Mustang freshman third baseman Mariah Cochiolo sliced a grounder to 49ers third baseman Liz Javier, who threw wide of first baseman Christina Schallig – a toss that allowed Lund to score from second and help Cal Poly snap an eight-game slide.

Long Beach State struck Saturday's opening blow during the top of the first as designated player Sarah Carrasco doubled up the middle to score pinch runner Emily Gregorio. Javier then doubled under a sliding attempt from Sobczak in center field to plate Carrasco and hand Long Beach State a 2-0 advantage.

Cal Poly, however, deadlocked the scoreline at the first asking. Long Beach State starting righthander Brooke Turner retired the first two Mustangs she saw before Lund doubled to left. Turner then intentionally walked Cahn – owner of a Big West Conference-leading 11 homers – before Correia skied a two-run double that fell between 49ers right fielder Hannah De Gaetano and center fielder Bree Stephan.

Patton returned during the top of the second, third and fifth innings to set the 49ers down in order, but the Mustangs themselves collected just two hits between the second and fifth.

Correia finished with two hits for Cal Poly, which opens a six-game road trip with a 12 noon doubleheader at Cal State Northridge on Saturday, April 30.