15-16
Buffalo
7-19
Mustang Softball Team Sweeps Friday Doubleheader from Buffalo
3/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
SAN LUIS OBISPO – Sophomore righthander Sierra Hyland (right) tossed a complete-game, two-hitter with five strikeouts and compiled three RBI – including her first home run of 2015 – as the Cal Poly softball program opened a Friday doubleheader versus Buffalo at Bob Janssen Field with an 8-0, six-inning triumph. Cal Poly then completed the sweep in game No. 2 as freshman righthander Lindsey Chalmers and Hyland combined to hold Buffalo to six hits in a 4-2 victory.
During Friday's opening game, Hyland (11-9) retired 11 of the first 12 Buffalo hitters she faced and kept the Bulls hitless until righthanded reliever Hayley Barrow doubled with two down in the fourth. Hyland then retired five successive Bulls as Buffalo failed to advance a baserunner past second in game No. 1.
Retired in order in the first inning, Cal Poly (16-16) struck for the lead during the second. Hyland led off with a single and after freshman designated player Stephanie Heyward laid down a successful sacrifice bunt, sophomore second baseman Ashley Tornio singled to place Mustangs at the corner bases. Freshman center fielder Amanda Sandoval then followed with a run-scoring groundout before junior first baseman Breana West plated Tornio with a bounding single over the head of Buffalo third baseman Savanna Norcio.
Into the third inning, Buffalo starting righthander Charlotte Miller (3-7) hit Tyler with one down before Hyland belted her first home run of 2015 to right center fielder to place the Mustangs up 4-0.
Cal Poly then went up 5-0 in the fourth with freshman catcher Susanne Morris scoring through a wild pitch unfurled by Barrow.
Hyland allowed just her second hit of the day in the top of the sixth, but the Mustangs returned in the bottom half of the inning to increase the advantage to 6-0 with West swatting her first home run of the year. Cal Poly went on to complete the opening-game scoring and produce its first run-rule victory of the season as Hyland lined a bases-loaded single through the left side of the infield to bring home sophomore pinch runner Shawna McDonough and freshman shortstop Chelsea Convissar.
During Friday's second game, Buffalo (7-20) grabbed its lone lead of the day in the top of the first inning off of Chalmers (5-6) as Barrow produced a two-out single to score Norcio.
Cal Poly, however, quickly erased Buffalo's advantage during the bottom half of the inning as Tyler complimented a leadoff single by senior left fielder Emily Ceccacci with a run-scoring triple. Six pitches later, Hyland secured the lead for Cal Poly by doubling to plate Tyler. After Heyward and Tornio each drew walks to load the bases, West closed a four-run first inning by the Mustangs with a two-run single.
Following Buffalo's first-inning run, Chalmers retired eight of the ensuing 10 hitters she faced before catcher Lauren Gambone homered with one down in the fourth.
Lifted for Hyland – who earned her third career save to move into third place all-time at Cal Poly – Chalmers earned the victory after scattering five hits.
Tyler finished with a team-leading three hits during game No. 2.
Winners of eight of its last 10 games, Cal Poly closes the non-conference portion of its regular season schedule when visiting CSU Bakersfield for a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Tuesday, March 24.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hyland, Sierra (11-9)
L: MILLER, Charlotte (3-7)
Batting:
2B: BARROW, Hayley 1
Batting:
HR: Hyland, Sierra 1 ; West, Breana 1
RBI: Hyland, Sierra 3 ; Sandoval, Amanda 1 ; West, Breana 2
SH: Heyward, Stephanie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Convissar, Chelsea 1 ; Tyler, Courtney 1 ; Hyland, Sierra 1 ; Goodrum, Alina 1 ; Tornio, Ashley 1 ; West, Breana 1 ; Morris, Susanne 1 ; McDonough, Shawna 1
SB: Tornio, Ashley 1
HBP: Tyler, Courtney 1 ; Morris, Susanne 1
