15-11
New Mexico State
17-14
Cal Poly Edges New Mexico State, Saint Mary's at Fresno State Classic
3/16/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
FRESNO, Calif. — Two more stellar pitching performances from freshman Sierra Hyland, aided by some timely hitting, carried the Cal Poly softball team to a pair of wins Sunday, first 1-0 over New Mexico State and then 3-2 over Saint Mary's, on the last day of the Fresno State Classic at Bulldog Diamond.
Two weekends away from the start of Big West Conference play, the Mustangs (16-11) have now won 11 of their past 14.
In Sunday morning's game against the Aggies (17-14), Hyland tossed a one-hitter with 11 strikeouts and three walks in the complete-game shutout.
Cal Poly got the only run it would need in the bottom of the first inning, as Hyland drove in junior leftfielder Emily Ceccacci (pictured at right) with a two-out double to right field. It was the second extra-base hit of the frame, as Ceccacci had put herself in scoring position in the previous at-bat by tripling to right-center.
The no-hit bid was broken up in the fifth, when Alyssa Ruiz singled to center field. NMSU had runners at the corners at that moment, but Hyland responded by striking out Emma Adams swinging on a full count to get out of the inning.
Against the Gaels (9-16) later in the afternoon, the Mustangs put one run up in the top of the second, as sophomore designated player Betsy Colburn picked up an RBI on a sac fly to center, plating freshman rightfielder Courtney Tyler. (Two batters after Tyler had led off with a single up the middle, senior shortstop Kim Westlund singled to center field to move Colburn over to third base.)
In the bottom of the third inning, SMC tied it on a Loralie Fitzpatrick solo home run over the left-field wall.
Turnabout was fair play, though, as Cal Poly regained its one-run lead on a solo shot of its own when Colburn homered to left field in the sixth.
The Mustangs added another run in the seventh, as Ceccacci chalked up an RBI on a groundout to second base. Senior centerfielder Lauren Moreno, who had gotten on with a lead-off double to center (which prompted a pitching change), came home on the play.
The Gaels threatened once more in the bottom of the seventh, as Christine Torrise reached on a fielder's choice, during which Andrea Hazel scored. Fitzpatrick then singled to right to move the tying run to third. Hyland induced a pop-up corralled by Westlund, however, to safely end the game with two left on.
Hyland (13-4) scattered six hits in the second victory, with three strikeouts and no walks.
Cal Poly will next head to Los Angeles for a Sunday doubleheader at Loyola Marymount, versus Dartmouth at 9 a.m. and then the host Lions at 1 p.m.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hyland, Sierra (12-4)
L: Donisthorpe, Karysta (6-7)
Batting:
SH: Dodd, Kelsey 1
Batting:
2B: Hyland, Sierra 1
3B: Ceccacci, Emily 1
RBI: Hyland, Sierra 1
SH: Westlund, Kim 1 ; Brown, Cami 1 ; Romano, Ashley 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ceccacci, Emily 1
HBP: Tyler, Courtney 1
