Mustang Softball Upset Bid Falls Short versus No. 21 Stanford

Saturday, February 9

Tempe, Ariz. (Kajikawa Classic)

8 am

3-1

Arizona

1-3

Cal Poly

Stanford

Mustang Softball Upset Bid Falls Short versus No. 21 Stanford

2/9/2013 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

TEMPE, Ariz. – Freshman first baseman Breana West's one-out run-scoring single during the top of the ninth inning provided the Cal Poly softball program the go-ahead run against No. 21 Stanford on Saturday at the Arizona State-hosted Kajikawa Classic, but the Cardinal scored twice during the bottom half of the ninth to upend the Mustangs at the Tempe Sports Complex, 7-6. Cal Poly also dropped a 10-3 decision against No. 13 Arizona to open Saturday's doubleheader.

During Saturday's second game, Cal Poly (1-3) – through sophomore right fielder Celina Lafrades being hit with the bases loaded and a two-run double from senior left fielder Whitley Gerhart – notched three runs during the top of the fifth against Stanford (3-1) to grab a 5-4 lead. The Cardinal, however, extended the matchup during the bottom of the seventh as sophomore first baseman Erin Ashby swatted a one-out solo home run.

Both sides advanced a baserunner to third during the eighth with the international tiebreaker rule in effect. Lafrades began the ninth on second base before reaching third through a Gerhart sacrifice bunt. West (right) then lined her single into right field to plate Lafrades for a 6-5 lead.

Stanford returned during the bottom half of the ninth to load the bases with one out. The Mustangs moved a step closer to victory with sophomore third baseman Jillian Andersen throwing out Cardinal sophomore right fielder Leah White on an infield grounder struck by freshman catcher Jessica Plaza. Four pitches later, however, sophomore left fielder Cassandra Rouland produced a two-run double to left center field to hand the Cardinal victory.

After Stanford notched four runs during the first, the Mustangs cut into the Cardinal lead during the third as junior shortstop Kim Westlund and Lafrades notched back-to-back run-scoring hits.

In the circle, Mustang sophomore lefthander Chloe Wurst (0-1) struck out three in suffering the loss.

During Saturday's opening contest against Arizona (2-1), Cal Poly opened the scoring during the bottom of the second as senior catcher Shea Williams scored on a fielding error by Wildcat freshman third baseman Lauren Young. Arizona, however, added three runs during the third, one in the fourth and five in the sixth to wrest control of the matchup.

The Mustangs corralled two runs back in the sixth as Gerhart swatted a two-run homer over the center field fence that also scored Lafrades. The Wildcats, who reached the Super Regional round of the 2012 NCAA Tournament, scored once more in the seventh to round off the game.

Cal Poly sophomore righthander Jordan Yates fell to 1-2 in scattering 11 hits during the opening five innings.

Cal Poly concludes Kajikawa Classic action on Sunday versus San Jose State at 7:30 a.m. PT.