Cal Poly Splits Opening Day at Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic

Friday, February 20

Cathedral City, CA

3 pm

6-5

Indiana

2-12

Cal Poly

Indiana

Cal Poly Splits Opening Day at Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic

2/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

CATHEDRAL CITY – Sophomore righthander Sierra Hyland tossed a complete-game three-hitter with 12 strikeouts and sophomore left fielder Courtney Tyler (right) produced three RBI on Friday afternoon as the Cal Poly softball team opened play at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic with a 4-0 triumph versus Indiana. Cal Poly, however, fell in game No. 2 of Friday's doubleheader to Oregon State, 6-5.

During Friday's opening game against Indiana (2-12), Hyland (5-4) allowed just one hit and one Hoosier baserunner past second during the opening four innings. In the fifth, Indiana placed two baserunners in scoring position with two outs, but Hyland struck out designated player Shannon Cawley to end the threat. Hyland then retired six of the final seven hitters she faced to close Cal Poly's win.

Hyland's 12-strikeout performance marked her fourth double-digit strikeout game in seven starts this season.

Offensively, Cal Poly (6-6) notched the only run needed in the top of the first. Freshman center fielder Amanda Sandoval was struck with the first pitch of the game and freshman shortstop Chelsea Convissar followed with a single to move Sandoval to third. Two pitches later, Tyler flew out to center field to plate Sandoval.

Cal Poly added its second run in the sixth as sophomore second baseman Ashley Tornio doubled with one down. Two batters later and with two outs, junior right fielder Betsy Colburn reached on an error by Hoosier shortstop Taylor Uden with the miscue plating Tornio.

The Mustangs then doubled their lead and finalized the scoring in the seventh as Tyler laced a double into center field to bring home Sandoval and Convissar.

Sandoval finished with a career-high three hits for Cal Poly versus Indiana.

During Friday's nightcap versus Oregon State (9-4), the Beavers struck for three runs in the top of the first inning off of Mustang starting righthander Lindsey Chalmers with catcher Hannah Akamine producing a run-scoring single before designated player Alysha Everett delivered a two-out, two-run double.

Chalmers, however, retired seven of the next Beavers she faced and Cal Poly began cutting into Oregon State's lead. Freshman designated player Stephanie Heyward led off the bottom half of the second with a double before moving to third on a passed ball and scoring through a fielder's choice from junior first baseman Breana West.

Cal Poly then closed within one run of Oregon State's lead in the third as Hyland singled with two down to score Tyler, who previously doubled.

Despite Oregon State taking a 5-2 lead in the top of the fifth with two runs, Cal Poly tied the matchup in the bottom half of the inning. After Sandoval led off with a base hit, Convissar singled. Going from first, Sandoval eventually scored on a fielding error by Beavers shortstop McKenna Arriola. Later in the inning, Cal Poly featured Tyler on third base and freshman pinch runner Alina Goodrum on second when Heyward produced a sacrifice fly to plate Tyler. Tornio then singled to right field to plate Goodrum and tie the game at 5-5.

Despite Cal Poly's rally, Oregon State pushed across the winning run in the top of the sixth. Left fielder Lovie Lopez led off with a single before moving to second base through a sacrifice and third after Arriola reached on a two-out fielding error by Convissar at shortstop. The next Beaver, center fielder Dani Gilmore, then singled up the middle to score Lopez for the decisive run.

Hyland, who pitched the final two innings in relief for Cal Poly, suffered the loss.

Sandoval finished with three more hits for the Mustangs against Oregon State.

Cal Poly continues tournament play on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 7:30 p.m. versus LIU Brooklyn.