32-18, 13-6
UC Riverside
22-30, 3-16
Mustangs Eliminated from Big West Title Contention with Friday Split
5/9/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
SAN LUIS OBISPO – Freshman righthander Sierra Hyland tossed a complete-game, three-hit shutout as the Cal Poly softball program opened a three-game series and Friday doubleheader against UC Riverside with a 3-0 triumph. However, the second-place Mustangs – who required a sweep of UC Riverside to stay in contention for the Big West title and the conference's automatic NCAA Tournament berth – conceded two early runs during the nightcap and suffered a 2-1 defeat.
The Mustangs (32-19, 13-7) entered the final week of the regular season trailing Big West co-leaders Long Beach State (37-17, 14-6) and UC Santa Barbara (34-19, 14-6) by a single game in the conference standings. Cal Poly's route to the Big West title and an NCAA Tournament berth had just one path: the Mustangs needed to sweep last-place UC Riverside and have Long Beach State defeat UC Santa Barbara twice. The 49ers and Gauchos split their Friday doubleheader, but Cal Poly's fifth one-run conference loss of 2014 took the Mustangs out of title contention.
During Friday's opening 3-0 triumph, Cal Poly needed just two innings to grab the lead. With one out in the bottom half of the second, seniors Mariah Cochiolo and Lauren Moreno drew successive walks before senior second baseman Ashley Romano flew a run-scoring double over the head of UC Riverside right fielder Sommer Wilson.
An inning later, the Mustangs doubled their advantage as freshman designated player Courtney Tyler (right) belted her second career home run over the left field wall.
Steadily pulling away from the Highlanders, Cal Poly went up 3-0 in the fourth as Romano – who entered Friday with two doubles on the season – led off by swatting her second of the day. A sacrifice bunt laid down by senior right fielder Cami Brown moved Moreno to third before senior third baseman Jillian Andersen cemented the final scoreline with an infield fielder's choice.
After walking UC Riverside leadoff hitter Dionne Anderson and allowing a single to first baseman Karina Romero in the top of the first inning, Hyland – one of 10 finalists for the inaugural NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year trophy – retired the next 12 Highlanders she faced to improve to 25-8.
During Friday's second game – in which Cal Poly lost a seventh Big West game by two runs or fewer – UC Riverside produced its two runs for victory in the second. With two outs and third baseman Taylor Wright on second through a leadoff walk and sacrifice bunt, Highlander right fielder Nicolette Lujan reached on a fielding error by Andersen at third. Mustang starting lefthander Chloe Wurst (7-10) then hit left fielder Stephanie Tickemyer before shortstop Kris DeAnda single to plate Wright for the opening run. With the bases still jammed, Anderson followed with a five-pitch walk to score Lujan for a 2-0 lead.
Held to three hits through the opening five innings by UC Riverside starting righthander Sophie Slagle (6-10) and without having advanced a baserunner past second, Cal Poly broke through for their lone run in the bottom of the sixth. Hyland reached to lead off, moving to first as the result of a dropped third strike by Highlander catcher Natalie Sanchez. With Brown on to pinch run, Cochiolo walked before Moreno singled up the middle. Running from second, Brown was thrown out at the plate by Andersen in center field. Both Mustang baserunners moved into scoring position, however, as Cochiolo later scored on another Sanchez passed ball.
Cal Poly's last chance to salvage a spot in the Big West title race came in the bottom of the seventh as junior left fielder Emily Ceccacci singled with two down. Tyler, however, flew out to end the matchup.
During Saturday's second game, Hyland – who tossed five and one-third innings of relief – improved her season innings pitched total to 257 and one-third to move past previous holder Anna Cahn (252 and two-thirds in 2009) for first on the single-year list.
Cal Poly closes the 2014 regular season with a 12 noon matchup against UC Riverside on Saturday, May 10.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hyland, Sierra (25-8)
L: Razo, Alyssa (13-17)
Batting:
2B: Romano, Ashley 2
HR: Tyler, Courtney 1
RBI: Tyler, Courtney 1 ; Romano, Ashley 1 ; Andersen, Jillian 1
SH: Brown, Cami 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Tyler, Courtney 1 ; Cochiolo, Mariah 1 ; Romano, Ashley 1
