3-9
Ohio State
11-3
Mustang Softball Team Comes Up Short against No. 9 Oregon
2/23/2013 12:00:00 AM | Softball
CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – Facing her third ranked opponent in six days, Cal Poly sophomore lefthander Chloe Wurst matched a career high with seven strikeouts, but the Mustang softball program was edged by No. 9 Oregon on Saturday afternoon at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, 2-1. Cal Poly also dropped its doubleheader opener against Ohio State, 12-1, in six innings.
During Saturday's nightcap, Cal Poly struck the opening blow against Oregon (11-3) during the bottom of the second inning as junior catcher Mariah Cochiolo swatted a two-out double to center field to plate senior Whitley Gerhart.
Held to a solitary hit during the opening three innings by Wurst, Oregon deadlocked the scoreline in the fourth as junior first baseman Kailee Cuico doubled to left center to score sophomore center fielder Janie Takeda. The Ducks required just one more inning to notch the winning run as junior shortstop Courtney Ceo doubled down the left field line with two outs to score senior right fielder Samantha Pappas.
After scoring the initial run of the game, Cal Poly failed to produce a baserunner the remainder of the day. Wurst (2-3), who allowed just two walks and scattered five hits, retired seven of the last eight hitters she faced. After defeating No. 18 Washington (Feb. 16) and No. 13 Georgia (Feb. 22), Saturday's loss was Wurst's first against a ranked team this season.
During Saturday's opening contest against Ohio State (9-4), the Buckeyes struck twice in the first inning, added two runs during the top of the second through sophomore right fielder Caitlin Conrad's two-run homer and tacked on another run in the third to go up 5-0.
Cal Poly struck back during the bottom of the third as Westlund singled into center field with two down to score Romano.
Cal Poly threatened again during the fourth, but Cochiolo was thrown out at home attempting to score on a single from freshman first baseman Breana West. In the fifth, the Mustangs loaded the bases with no outs, but Westlund hit into an unassisted double play turned by Buckeye senior third baseman Megan Coletta to end any threat.
Ohio State then returned with a seven-run sixth inning to win the shortened matchup.
Cal Poly (3-10) concludes Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic play on Sunday, Feb. 24 versus Long Island at 11:30 a.m. and Utah at 2 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hawkins, C (3-1)
L: Wurst, Chloe (2-3)
S: Moore, J (1)
Batting:
2B: Ceo, C 1 ; Cuico, K 1 ; Pappas, S 1
RBI: Ceo, C 1 ; Cuico, K 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Takeda, J 1 ; Pappas, S 1
SB: Burger, A 1
CS: Burger, A 1
Batting:
2B: Cochiolo, Mariah 1
RBI: Cochiolo, Mariah 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gerhart, Whitley 1
