0-1
Portland State
1-1
Mustangs Drop Pair at Kajikawa Classic to Open 2012 Campaign
2/10/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
TEMPE, Ariz. – Sophomore third baseman Kim Westlund swatted her first home run of the year, but the Cal Poly softball program was unable to avoid a season-opening sweep on Friday, as the Mustangs kicked off their 2012 campaign with a 9-0 loss against Portland State and a 15-3 defeat versus San Jose State at the Arizona State-hosted Kajikawa Classic inside the Tempe Sports Complex.
During Friday's nightcap against San Jose State (1-1), the Spartans received a three-run homer from junior shortstop BranDee Garcia during the first inning to lead from the onset. The Spartans then added a single run in the third, six in the fourth and five during the fifth to help solidify the run-rule victory.
The Mustangs notched their first runs of the year during the bottom of the fifth. Senior left fielder Nora Sobczak singled to lead off the inning before freshman designated player Emily Ceccacci reached on a fielder's choice. Westlund then stepped to the plate to swat her three-run homer.
Ceccacci finished with two hits for Cal Poly. Lefthander Chloe Wurst (0-1) suffered the loss for the Mustangs.
During Friday's season opener against Portland State (1-1), Vikings junior righthander Anna Bertrand struck out seven Cal Poly hitters against just one walk in no-hitting the Mustangs. Sobczak walked to open the game, but the Mustangs were retired in order the remainder of the afternoon.
After scoring a pair of runs during both the first and fourth innings, Portland State secured the run-rule victory by scoring five times with two outs during the bottom of the fifth. With the bases loaded against Mustang starting righthander Rebecca Patton (above, 0-1), Vikings sophomore third baseman Crysta Conn produced a three-run double before senior first baseman Karmen Holladay homered to right center field to end the matchup.
Cal Poly continues Kajikawa Classic play on Saturday, Feb. 11 against Georgia Tech (4:30 p.m.) and Texas Tech (8:30 p.m.).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: BERTRAND, A. (1-0)
L: Patton, Rebecca (0-1)
Batting:
2B: BLISS, B. 1 ; CONN, C. 1
HR: HOLLADAY, K. 1 ; NITSCHELM, A 1
RBI: BLISS, B. 1 ; CONN, C. 4 ; HOLLADAY, K. 2 ; NITSCHELM, A 2
SF: CONN, C. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: KROGH, J. 2 ; BLISS, B. 2 ; McEACHRAN, C 1 ; CONN, C. 1 ; HOLLADAY, K. 1 ; NORRIE, K. 1 ; NITSCHELM, A 1
SB: KROGH, J. 1
