Mustangs Slide Past Providence, Montana at Fresno State Classic

Saturday, March 14

Fresno, CA

1:30 pm

13-14

Providence

5-11

Cal Poly

Providence

Mustangs Slide Past Providence, Montana at Fresno State Classic

3/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

FRESNO – Freshman righthander Lindsey Chalmers tossed a complete-game, two-hitter with a career high seven strikeouts as the Cal Poly softball program opened a Saturday afternoon doubleheader at the Fresno State Classic by besting Providence, 4-2. Sophomore righthander Sierra Hyland then struck out six Montana hitters in game No. 2 as the Mustangs prevailed, 2-1.

During Saturday's opener against Providence (5-11) at Margie Wright Diamond, the Friars scored their lone runs off of Chalmers (4-5) in the bottom of the first inning with third baseman Shanelle Harrell reaching on an error by Mustang senior left fielder Emily Ceccacci before designated player Kristie Dederick homered to right field.

After conceding the home run, Chalmers retired the Friars in order in the second and third. After yielding Providence's second hit in the fourth, Chalmers retired the final 10 Friars she faced.

Kept to one hit through the opening three innings, Cal Poly (14-14) finally got on the board in the fourth as freshman center fielder Amanda Sandoval drew a bases-loaded walk to force home Hyland.

The Mustangs, who stranded the bases loaded to close the fourth and left one on in the fifth and two in the sixth, scratched out the winning runs in the top of the seventh. With Ceccacci having bunted her way on to first and freshman pinch runner Alina Goodrum on second, freshman shortstop Chelsea Convissar reached on a fielding error by Harrell at third base. With the bases loaded, Mustang sophomore right fielder Courtney Tyler singled up the middle to tie the game.

Two batters later, freshman designated player Stephanie Heyward delivered the decisive blow with a single through the right side of the infield to plate Convissar and Tyler for the 4-2 lead.

Heyward finished with a career high three hit versus Providence.

During Saturday's second game versus Montana (4-19), Hyland retired nine of the first 12 Grizzlies she faced and kept Montana to one hit through the opening three innings before catcher Lexie Brenneis homered to lead off the fourth.

Cal Poly, however, countered in the bottom half of the fourth as Sandoval produced a one-out sacrifice fly to bring home sophomore pinch runner Shawna McDonough.

With the first matchup between the two programs tied, Hyland retired the final nine Montana hitters of the day and Cal Poly notched the winning run in the top half of the sixth as Heyward produced her first career home run – an inside-the-park effort – to put the Mustangs in front.

Winners of six straight decisions, Cal Poly closes the Fresno State Classic on Sunday, March 15 versus No. 16 Minnesota (12 noon) and the host Bulldogs (2:30 p.m.).