9-33, 0
UC Davis
21-24, 0
Mustangs Split Saturday Doubleheader at UC Davis
5/7/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
DAVIS, Calif. – Freshman second baseman Ashley Romano's fourth-inning single provided the Cal Poly softball program the go-ahead run during the opening game of a Saturday afternoon doubleheader as the Mustangs posted a 5-2 victory versus UC Davis. Despite senior designated player Anna Cahn's Big West Conference-leading 13th home run during game No. 2, Cal Poly saw a five-year, five-game winning streak at LaRue Field snapped with a 9-1, six-inning defeat.
UC Davis (22-24, 7-10) grabbed the initial lead during game No. 1 as right fielder Kylie Fan sailed a two-out single into short center during the second to score Kelly Harman from second base.
The Mustangs (9-34, 5-12) answered immediately during the top half of the third. Sophomore center fielder Whitley Gerhart opened Cal Poly's response by lashing a leadoff double – her first career extra-base hit – down the left field line. Junior center fielder Nora Sobczak and freshman shortstop Kim Westlund followed with successive fielder's choices to load the bases. UC Davis starting lefthander Alex Holmes (15-17) proceeded to strike out Cal Poly starting righthander Rebecca Patton before Gerhart was forced out at home plate. With two down, however, Cahn drew a full-count walk to force home Westlund and draw the matchup level.
The Mustangs required just another inning to usurp the Aggie lead. Holmes struck freshman third baseman Mariah Cochiolo to lead off the fourth before freshman second baseman Ashley Romano (above) smashed a pitch into right field. Fan mishandled the single, an error that allowed Cochiolo to score from first without a throw. Gerhart then grounded out, a sequence that brought home Romano from third and provided Cal Poly a 3-1 advantage.
Patton retired six of the eight Aggies she faced between the third and fourth innings before UC Davis set runners at the corner bases with one down in the fifth. Patton, however, forced shortstop Elizabeth Santana to fly out before Mustang right fielder Nicole Lund threw out Holmes at home to end the inning.
The Aggies threatened once more during the sixth, loading the bases with one out. Romano, however, threw out Aggie pinch runner JJ Wagoner at home plate before forcing out Fan at second on a ball struck by left fielder Heather Zimmerman to halt yet another UC Davis threat.
The Mustangs took advantage of the Aggie inability to score as Cahn and Correia tallied run-scoring hits in the seventh, plating, respectively, Patton and Lund.
Facing a four-run deficit entering the bottom of the seventh, UC Davis received a run-scoring fielder's choice from substitute third baseman Bianca Castillo. With runners at the corners, however, Patton forced Harman into a game-ending groundout.
Patton (7-18) scattered eight hits in victory as UC Davis stranded 10 baserunners.
During Saturday's second game, a fielding error by Cochiolo at third base led to UC Davis' opening run before Castillo doubled into the left field gap to plate Megan Guzman and hand the hosts a 2-0 lead after one inning.
For the second-successive game, Cal Poly wasted little time responding as Cahn led off the next half-inning by working UC Davis starting righthander Kasie Cochran to a full count before belting her 27th career homer to left field.
The Aggies, however, added a run during the bottom half of the inning through a run-scoring fielder's choice from Holmes.
Cahn resumed action by retiring seven-consecutive Aggies between the second and fourth, but Cal Poly itself was retired by Holmes in order during the third and fourth innings.
UC Davis returned during the fifth and furthered the lead to 7-1 after Harman wrapped a one-out grand slam around the left field foul pole. UC Davis finalized the run-rule decision during the sixth as Aggie catcher Rachel Miller drew a bases-loaded walk to force home Guzman. Mustang righthanded reliever Trista Thomas then struck pinch hitter Felicia Baldwin with a pitch to plate Santana and end Saturday's action.
The Mustangs and Aggies complete their three-game series on Sunday, May 8 at 12 noon.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Patton, Rebecca (7-18)
L: Holmes, Alex (15-17)
Batting:
2B: Gerhart, Whitley 1
RBI: Cahn, Anna 2 ; Correia, Stephanie 1 ; Gerhart, Whitley 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Patton, Rebecca 1 ; Lund, Nicole 1 ; Cochiolo, Mariah 1 ; Romano, Ashley 1 ; Westlund, Kim 1
HBP: Cochiolo, Mariah 1
Batting:
RBI: Castillo, Bianca 1 ; Fan, Kylie 1
SH: Harman, Kelly 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Guzman, Megan 1 ; Harman, Kelly 1
