2-2
BYU
3-0
Ceccacci, Hyland Lift Cal Poly to Saturday Doubleheader Split
2/7/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
TEMPE, Ariz. – Sophomore righthander Sierra Hyland struck out 11 BYU hitters and senior left fielder Emily Ceccacci's first collegiate home run stood as the game-winning margin as the Cal Poly softball program opened Saturday action at the Arizona State-hosted Kajikawa Classic with a 3-1 triumph. The Mustangs, however, dropped game No. 2 of their doubleheader to California, 8-4.
During Saturday's opening matchup versus BYU (2-3), Hyland (2-0) held the Cougars to just two hits during the opening three innings. With two outs in the fourth, however, BYU broke through as right fielder Lacey Hofstedt followed a double by shortstop Alexa Strid with a run-scoring infield single.
Cal Poly struck back immediately in the bottom half of the inning with freshman first baseman Stephanie Heyward earning her first collegiate RBI by doubling to left field with two down to plate freshman pinch runner Alina Goodrum.
The Mustangs then returned in the fifth to grab the lead with Ceccacci (right) swatting her one-out homer to center field.
Cal Poly added its final run in the sixth inning as sophomore second baseman Ashley Tornio and sophomore right fielder Courtney Tyler led off the bottom half with successive singles. Tornio was eventually picked off at second base, but after junior designated player Betsy Colburn drew a walk, freshman catcher Susanne Morris earned her first collegiate RBI by depositing a single into right field.
BYU loaded the bases with two down against Hyland in the top of the seventh, but the reigning Big West Conference Pitcher of the Year honoree struck out Cougars pinch hitter McKenzie St. Clair to end the matchup.
Freshman shortstop Chelsea Convissar finished with a game-high two hits for Cal Poly against BYU.
During Saturday's second game versus California (3-0), the Golden Bears grabbed the game's only lead in the top of the first inning through a two-out, two-run single from catcher Danielle Henderson. The Golden Bears then doubled their lead in the third with shortstop Britt Vonk producing a two-run double.
Held hitless during the opening two innings, Cal Poly opened its half of the third with singles from Colburn and freshman catcher Alejandra Garcia. After Ceccacci reached on a field's choice to load the bases, California starting righthander Nisa Ontiveros (2-0) hit Convissar to force home Cal Poly's opening run. A fielder's choice from Hyland two batters later brought home Ceccacci and, with the bases still loaded, Ontiveros plunked Tyler with a pitch to score Convissar and cut Cal Poly's deficit to 4-3.
California, however, strengthened its lead in the top of the fourth with second baseman Kylie Reed producing a run-scoring single and Vonk a run-scoring, sacrifice fly.
Cal Poly notched one final run in the fifth with Heyward singling with one down to score Goodrum. Running from second, Tornio was thrown out at home on the single and Ontiveros elicited a pop out from Colburn and fly out from Garcia to end Cal Poly's threat.
California then scored twice in the sixth to finalize the game's offense.
Heyward (0-1), making her first collegiate start for Cal Poly, suffered the loss.
Cal Poly (2-2) closes Kajikawa Classic action on Sunday, Feb. 8 versus Oregon State at 10:30 a.m. PT.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ontiveros,Nisa (2-0)
L: Heyward, Stephanie (0-1)
S: Trzcinski,Stephanie (1)
Batting:
2B: Vonk,Britt 1 ; Kostreba,Breana 1
RBI: Reed,Kylie 1 ; Vonk,Britt 3 ; Cordes,Cheyenne 1 ; Henderson,Danielle 2
SF: Vonk,Britt 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jackson,Jazmyn 3 ; Reed,Kylie 2 ; Vonk,Britt 1 ; Cordes,Cheyenne 1 ; Alvarez,Vanessa 1
CS: Reed,Kylie 1
Batting:
RBI: Convissar, Chelsea 1 ; Hyland, Sierra 1 ; Tyler, Courtney 1 ; Heyward, Stephanie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ceccacci, Emily 1 ; Convissar, Chelsea 1 ; Goodrum, Alina 1 ; McDonough, Shawna 1
HBP: Convissar, Chelsea 1 ; Tyler, Courtney 2
