19-11, 1-0
Cal State Northridge
22-12, 0-1
Hyland Perfect as Cal Poly Splits Big West Opening Day
3/29/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – One of the best pitching seasons in Cal Poly softball program history only got better on Saturday afternoon as freshman righthander Sierra Hyland (right) helped the Mustangs open Big West Conference play and a Saturday doubleheader against Cal State Northridge by tossing a perfect game as part of a 1-0 triumph at Bob Janssen Field. The Mustangs, however, fell in game No. 2 as Cal State Northridge scored twice in the top of the 12th inning to edge Cal Poly, 2-1.
During Saturday's opening contest, Hyland (16-5) retired all 21 Cal State Northridge hitters in order and finished with 11 strikeouts to record the second no-hitter of her freshman season. Hyland threw 75 percent of her 96 pitches for strikes, reached a full count against a Cal State Northridge hitter just twice and struck out at least one Matador in every inning during the one hour, 40-minute performance.
Offensively, Cal Poly (19-12, 1-1) scratched out its winning run in the bottom of the fourth. Cal State Northridge starting righthander Brianna Elder (15-5) hit Mustang leadoff hitter Mariah Cochiolo before senior shortstop Kim Westlund followed with a bunt single. The next Mustang, sophomore first baseman Breana West, then produced a grounder that was mishandled by Matador second baseman Carissa Sherman. The miscue allowed Westlund to score from second base for the eventual 1-0 final.
During Saturday's second game – the third lengthiest Big West game in Cal Poly program history and the longest game involving a Mustang squad since a 13-inning, 2-1 home win against Utah State on March 8, 2009 – Hyland went the distance and struck out four, but conceded eight hits and seven walks.
After stranding 12 baserunners through the opening 11 innings, Cal State Northridge (23-12, 1-1) produced the game's first runs in the top of the 12th. Cal State Northridge catcher Katie Hooper followed successive leadoff singles from left fielder Abby Linn and center fielder Taylor Glover with a groundout that placed the two Matadors in scoring position. Matador second baseman Madison Fleming then doubled to left center field to put Cal State Northridge up, 2-0.
Cal Poly responded in the bottom half of the 12th with a one-out single from junior left fielder Emily Ceccacci scoring senior center fielder Lauren Moreno. However, Cal State Northridge reliever Daphne Pofek (5-3) forced a ground out from Hyland and a pop out from freshman designated player Courtney Tyler to end the matchup.
The Mustangs stranded 13 baserunners in the second game.
With 15 strikeouts on Saturday, Hyland improved her freshman year total to 174 – the third highest single-season total in program history and the loftiest amount since All-American Desarie Knipfer struck out a program-record 253 batters in 1998.
Cal Poly and Cal State Northridge complete their three-game series with a 12 noon contest on Sunday, March 30.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hyland, Sierra (16-4)
L: Elder, Brianna (15-5)
Batting:
SH: Cochiolo, Mariah 1 ; Romano, Ashley 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Westlund, Kim 1
SB: Andersen, Jillian 1
HBP: Ceccacci, Emily 1 ; Cochiolo, Mariah 1
