Mustangs Topped in Series Finale at Cal State Northridge, 7-5

Sunday, May 1

Northridge, CA

12 pm

8-33, 4-11

Cal State Northridge

18-29, 6-9

Cal Poly

Cal State Northridge

Mustangs Topped in Series Finale at Cal State Northridge, 7-5

5/1/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – Senior designated player Anna Cahn swatted her Big West Conference-leading 12th home run of the 2011 season on Sunday afternoon at Matador Diamond, but Cal State Northridge scored five times with two outs during the bottom of the sixth inning to edge the Cal Poly softball program, 7-5.

Despite suffering the loss, sophomore righthander Rebecca Patton (6-18) limited Cal State Northridge (18-29, 6-9) to a solitary hit during the opening four innings before the Matadors scored seven times without reply for the come-from-behind triumph. Cal Poly (8-33, 4-11), which dropped just its second Big West road series during the past nine trips after splitting Saturday's doubleheader, completes a six-game road swing at UC Davis May 7-8.

Mustang junior left fielder Nora Sobczak opened Sunday's contest by slashing her first career triple – and just her second collegiate extra-base hit – to right center field. Patton followed with a five-pitch walk before junior right fielder Nicole Lund drove a deep sacrifice fly ball to center that plated Sobczak for a 1-0 Mustang lead. Junior catcher Stephanie Correia doubled Cal Poly's lead two spots later by bounding a grounder over the outstretched glove of Matador third baseman Tracy Allen and into left field to plate Patton from second base.

Patton retired the first eight batters she faced and Cal Poly resumed its offensive attack during the third. The Mustangs loaded the bases with one out against Cal State Northridge righthanded reliever Hannah Fraijo (12-11) before center fielder Whitley Gerhart furthered Cal Poly's lead by singling home freshman first baseman Jen Walker. Two batters later, a fielding error by Matadors shortstop Karla Chaparro allowed freshman second baseman Ashley Romano to score and provide the Mustangs a 4-0 lead.

The Mustangs preserved their shutout during the bottom half of the third as Westlund threw Mihm out at home plate after the Matadors advanced baserunners to first and second with two outs.

Cal Poly added its final run during the top of the fourth as Cahn (above) cracked her solo homer down the right field line.

Patton faced trouble for the first time on Sunday during the fifth. After yielding a bases-loaded walk to Matador second baseman Jaci Carlsen, Patton allowed right fielder Samantha Sloniker to deliver a sacrifice fly that scored Chaparro and cut Cal Poly's lead to 5-2. With two outs, Patton intentionally walked Matador catcher Mikayla Thielges – owner of 11 homers – to load the bases, but avoided further damage by inducing an inning-ending flyout from Allen.

Cal State Northridge, however, finally usurped the Mustang lead during the sixth. Patton retired the first two Matador hitters of the inning on four pitches, but, with two outs, designated player Jennifer Mosier running at second and Chaparro on at first, Mihm looped a fly ball into short center that popped out of the glove of a sliding Gerhart. The hit allowed both baserunners to cross the plate and after the Matadors reloaded the bases, Thielges unloaded them with a double off the left field wall that provided Cal State Northridge the 7-5, come-from-behind win.