Mustangs Fall Twice to Close Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic

Sunday, February 22

Cathedral City, CA

11:30 am

7-7

Utah

12-4

Utah

Cal Poly

Mustangs Fall Twice to Close Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic

2/22/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

CATHEDRAL CITY – Sophomore righthander Sierra Hyland struck out eight Utah hitters during the Cal Poly softball program's opening game Sunday at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, but the Utes tied the matchup late before producing two runs in the ninth to send the Mustangs to a 3-1 defeat. Cal Poly also fell in game No. 2 to UNLV, 3-0, after the Runnin' Rebels scored all of their runs in the first two innings.

During Sunday's opening game versus Utah (12-4), Cal Poly scored its lone run in the bottom of the first inning. Freshman center fielder Amanda Sandoval (right) led off with an infield single before moving to second and then third through successive sacrifice bunts by freshman shortstop Chelsea Convissar and junior left fielder Courtney Tyler. Two batters later, freshman designated player Stephanie Heyward singled into center field to score Sandoval.

Hyland (6-5), meanwhile, faced just one Utah hitter over the minimum during the opening five innings and failed to allow a baserunner past second until the Utes tied the matchup in the sixth. With two on and none out, first baseman Bridget Castro singled back to Hyland and, on the sequence, Mustang sophomore second baseman Ashley Tornio threw out Utah's Hannah Flippen at home. Castro, however, advanced into scoring position on the throw alongside center fielder Kate Dickman, who later scored on a groundout by shortstop Anissa Urtez.

Both sides were retired in order in the seventh and, with the international tiebreaker rule in effect for extra innings, Cal Poly's best chance to snatch victory occurred in the eighth. With Convissar beginning on second base, Tyler singled to place Mustangs at the corners. Hyland, however, hit into a double play to erase both Convissar and Tyler before Heyward struck out to nullify the chance at victory.

Utah seized on Cal Poly's misfortune in the top of the ninth as Castro singled home Dickman for a 2-1 advantage on the fourth pitch of the inning. Later, a double by third baseman Kristen Stewart brought in Castro for the 3-1 final scoreline.

With Heyward on second to begin Cal Poly's half of the ninth, Mustang junior first baseman Breana West was struck by a pitch with two down. Freshman catcher Susanne Morris, however, flew out to end the game.

West and Tyler led Cal Poly with a game-high two hits apiece.

During Saturday's second game against UNLV (7-7), the Rebels recorded their decisive runs in the top of the first inning as center fielder Samantha Juarez produced a two-run double with two down off of Cal Poly starting righthander Lindsey Chalmers (1-2).

UNLV then went up 3-0 in the second after shortstop Garie Blando came home following a two-out, bases-loaded wild pitch unleashed by Chalmers.

Held to two hits during the opening three innings by UNLV starter Kwyn Cooper, Cal Poly's best chance to break through occurred in the bottom of the fourth after Tyler singled and Hyland walked with one out. Heyward, however, grounded out and Tornio flew out to end the inning.

The Mustangs collected just one more hit the remainder of the game and failed to move a baserunner past second.

Cal Poly (7-8) continues action at the Feb. 27-March 1 San Diego Classic, jointly hosted by San Diego and San Diego State. Cal Poly's portion of the tournament draw begins on Friday, Feb. 27 versus top-ranked Florida (2 p.m.) and San Diego State (7 p.m.).