Mustangs Edge Cardinal 4-3 to Close Stanford Nike Invitational

Sunday, February 15

Stanford, CA

11:30 am

5-5

Stanford

7-4

Cal Poly

Stanford

Mustangs Edge Cardinal 4-3 to Close Stanford Nike Invitational

2/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

STANFORD –Sophomore righthander Sierra Hyland struck out six Stanford hitters and the Cal Poly softball program did all of its damage with a four-run fifth inning Sunday afternoon as the Mustangs closed the Stanford Nike Invitational with a 4-3 victory against the Cardinal.

Limited to two hits during the opening four innings by Stanford starting righthander Madi Schreyer, Cal Poly received a leadoff single in the fifth from freshman designated player Stephanie Heyward. After moving to second through a sacrifice bunt, Heyward eventually broke a scoreless deadlock by advancing to third and then home on wild pitches.

With freshman first baseman Alejandra Garcia on second after a four-pitch walk and freshman shortstop Chelsea Convissar on first following a single, Schreyer unfurled another wild pitch to move both Mustangs into scoring position. Senior left fielder Emily Ceccacci then delivered a two-run single to provide the Mustangs a 3-0 lead.

After sophomore right fielder Courtney Tyler (right) drew anther four-pitch walk, Hyland reached on a throwing error by Cardinal shortstop Kylie Sorenson – a miscue that allowed Ceccacci to cruise home for a 4-0 Mustang lead.

Hyland, meanwhile, kept Stanford to one hit through the opening six innings and failed to allow a Cardinal baserunner past second until the seventh, when left fielder Tylyn Wells, first baseman Kayla Bonstrom and catcher Jessica Plaza each produced run-scoring singles to cut Cal Poly's lead to 4-3.

With one out, however, Hyland struck out Cardinal second baseman Kaitlin Schaberg before inducing a game-ending pop out from center fielder Cassandra Roulund.

Heyward finished with a game-high two hits for Cal Poly, which broke a nine-game losing streak to Stanford dating to March 2, 2007.

Cal Poly (5-5) continues action at the Feb. 19-22 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Cathedral City, Calif. Cal Poly opens tournament play on Friday, Feb. 20 versus Indiana at 3 p.m. and Oregon State at 8 p.m.