Mustang Softball Splits Opening Day at Stanford Nike Invitational

Friday, February 14

Stanford, Calif.

10 am

3-3

Pacific

1-1

Pacific

Cal Poly

Mustang Softball Splits Opening Day at Stanford Nike Invitational

2/14/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

STANFORD, Calif. – Senior catcher Mariah Cochiolo doubled twice and picked up three RBI and junior lefthander Chloe Wurst (right) retired the final 14 Pacific batters of the day as the Cal Poly softball program opened the Stanford Nike Invitational with a 7-4 victory against the Tigers inside Boyd and Jill Smith Family Stadium. The Mustangs, however, dropped the second game of their doubleheader to the 17th-ranked Cardinal, 5-2.

During Friday's opener against Pacific (1-1), the Mustangs (3-4) countered a four-run first by the Tigers – compiled through third baseman Cassidy Gustafson's grand slam – with two runs in the bottom half of the inning. With two outs, Mustang junior left fielder Emily Ceccacci on third base and senior shortstop Kim Westlund on second, Cal Poly senior second baseman Ashley Romano halved Pacific's lead with a two-run single up the middle.

After stranding three baserunners in the second inning, Cal Poly hit back with three runs in the third. Sophomore first baseman Breana West singled to lead off the inning and after Romano – attempting a sacrifice bunt – reached on an error by Gustafson, Cochiolo tied the matchup with a two-run double. Three batters later, senior third baseman Jillian Andersen plated Cochiolo with a sacrifice fly to provide Cal Poly a 5-4 lead.

After Cochiolo scored once more in the fifth through an error by Pacific left fielder Gabby Goyette, Cal Poly's catcher picked up her third RBI of the day in the sixth by doubling to plate Westlund for the 7-4 triumph.

In the circle, Wurst (3-4) retired the final 14 Tigers she faced and failed to allow a walk in the complete-game victory.

During Friday's second game versus Stanford (7-0), Cal Poly – facing its second ranked Pac-12 Conference opponent of the season – snatched a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. After senior center fielder Lauren Moreno reached to lead off the game following a throwing error by Stanford starting righthander Madi Schreyer (5-0), Ceccacci and Westlund both drew full-count walks. Schreyer then hit West to bring home Moreno before a fielder's choice from Romano scored Ceccacci.

Stanford, however, responded with a two-run effort in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game through run-scoring singles from right fielder Bessie Noll and center fielder Cassandra Roulund. The Cardinal then tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the second with left fielder Leah White producing another run-scoring single and shortstop Kylie Sorenson collecting a sacrifice fly RBI.

Following their two-run first inning, the Mustangs failed to advance a baserunner past first the remainder of the game. Stanford, meanwhile, wrapped up the scoring in the fifth with Sorenson singling home third baseman Hanna Winter.

In her first career start, Cal Poly righthander Sierra Hyland (0-1) struck out six Cardinal, but also conceded six walks and six hits.

Cal Poly continues Stanford Nike Invitational action on Saturday, Feb. 15 when again facing Pacific (2:30 p.m.) and Stanford (4:45 p.m.).