7-8
New Mexico
1-12
Hyland Sharp again as Cal Poly Splits Sunday Doubleheader
2/23/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – A day after tossing a no-hitter against Maryland with 12 strikeouts, Mustang freshman righthander Sierra Hyland struck out nine New Mexico hitters as the Cal Poly softball team opened its Sunday doubleheader at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic with a 6-1 win against the Lobos. Cal Poly, however, dropped its second game and closed tournament action with a 6-0 loss against UNLV.
During Sunday's opening game versus New Mexico (1-12), Hyland (4-3) held the Lobos to three hits with a leadoff solo home run from second baseman Chelsea Anaya counting as the only blemish. After conceding two New Mexico hits during the third, Hyland – who tossed 69 percent of her 102 pitches for strikes – retired 14 of the final 15 hitters she faced.
Offensively, Cal Poly erased its early deficit in the top of the third as senior third baseman Jillian Andersen (right) singled up the middle with one out to score senior second baseman Ashley Romano before senior center fielder Lauren Moreno also reached home on a throwing error by Lobo catcher Mia Hignojas.
Cal Poly then went up 5-1 in the fourth as Moreno produced an infield single with two outs to score senior shortstop Kim Westlund before Andersen delivered a two-run base hit that plated Romano and senior catcher Mariah Cochiolo.
Cal Poly tacked on its final run in the seventh with junior left fielder Emily Ceccacci scoring on a wild pitch unfurled by New Mexico lefthanded reliever Lauren Soles.
During Sunday's second game against UNLV (5-8), Cal Poly was held to just three hits with the Rebels scoring all of the runs they required in the third through a two-run single from first baseman Tayler Van Acker and a run-scoring base hit by catcher Emily Haslinger.
UNLV cemented its win in the bottom of the sixth by scoring three more times, highlighted by a two-run double from Van Acker.
Cal Poly's best chance to break through against Rebel starting righthander Morgan Ettinger (3-1) came in the top of the sixth, as Romano led off with a single down the right field line before stealing second with one down. Ceccacci, however, popped up and sophomore designated player Betsy Colburn flew out to end any threat.
Mustang junior lefthander Chloe Wurst (3-6) struck out three Rebels, but suffered the loss.
Following a 12-day hiatus, Cal Poly returns to action when hosting its annual Mustang Classic tournament from March 7-9 at Bob Janssen Field.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hyland, Sierra (4-3)
L: SHEEHAN (1-6)
Batting:
2B: Ceccacci, Emily 1
RBI: Moreno, Lauren 1 ; Andersen, Jillian 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Moreno, Lauren 1 ; Ceccacci, Emily 1 ; Westlund, Kim 1 ; Cochiolo, Mariah 1 ; Romano, Ashley 2
HBP: Cochiolo, Mariah 1
Batting:
2B: ANAYA 1
HR: ANAYA 1
RBI: ANAYA 1
Base Running:
RUNS: ANAYA 1
