UC Davis
Mustang Softball Team Drops Pair of 3-2 Decisions to UC Davis
4/12/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
SAN LUIS OBISPO – The Cal Poly softball program's pitching staff conceded just five earned runs during a Saturday evening doubleheader against UC Davis, but the Mustangs dropped their third and fourth one-run losses in Big West Conference play with a pair of 3-2 defeats to the Aggies at Bob Janssen Field.
During Saturday's opening contest, Cal Poly freshman righthander Sierra Hyland (18-7) struck out five in a complete-game six-hitter, but UC Davis scratched across the winning run in the top of the fifth as a fielding error by Mustang first base Breana West on a ball grounded down the right field line from pinch hitter Katie Robertson scored left fielder Cat Guidry for the 3-2 Aggie lead.
Limited to two hits by Hyland during the opening three innings, UC Davis (14-24, 3-5) kickstarted the scoring in the top of the fourth through run-scoring doubles from catcher Lauryn Saunders and second baseman Chandler Wagner.
Cal Poly (21-16, 3-5) answered during the bottom half of the fourth as senior catcher Mariah Cochiolo (right) followed a leadoff single by senior shortstop Kim Westlund and a two-out walk from Hyland with a two-run double to right field.
UC Davis, however, found the winning run just a half-inning later.
During Saturday's second game, it was Cal Poly that opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning as a one-out sacrifice fly from senior right fielder Courtney Tyler brought home senior center fielder Lauren Moreno.
Limited to one hit during the first three innings by Cal Poly starting lefthander Chloe Wurst (3-8), UC Davis broke through in the fourth to tie the matchup at 1-1 as Wagner singled home pinch runner Jasmine Lee with two down.
The Mustangs, who stranded 10 baserunners in the second game, left the bags loaded in the bottom of the fifth and the Aggies capitalized in the top of the sixth. The go-ahead runs came courtesy of Wagner, who ripped a two-out shot down the left field line to plate first baseman Amy Nunez and pinch runner Kaila Olsen for a 3-1 advantage.
Cal Poly, however, returned in the bottom of the sixth to cut into the Aggie lead. With two outs, senior first baseman Shea Williams and senior second baseman Ashley Romano strung together successive base hits. The next Mustang, senior third baseman Jillian Andersen, then dumped a run-scoring single into center field to put Cal Poly at a 3-2 disadvantage.
The Mustangs though finished the sixth by stranding two baserunners and left two more on in the seventh.
Despite taking the loss, Wurst struck out four Aggies without allowing a walk and tossed 82 percent of her 76 pitches for strikes.
Cal Poly and UC Davis close the three-game series on Sunday, April 13 with a 12 noon matchup.
