Mustang Softball Team Falls in Series Finale at CSUN, 7-5

Sunday, March 29

Northridge, CA

12 pm

17-20, 0-3

CSUN

28-10, 3-0

Cal Poly

CSUN

Mustang Softball Team Falls in Series Finale at CSUN, 7-5

3/29/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

NORTHRIDGE – The Cal Poly softball team struck first Sunday afternoon and composed a late rally by scoring twice with two outs in the top of the seventh inning, but a five-run second by CSUN placed the Matadors in front to stay as the Mustangs closed a three-game series with a 7-5 loss.

Trailing CSUN 7-3 entering the seventh, Cal Poly received a two-out single from freshman center fielder Amanda Sandoval before sophomore right fielder Courtney Tyler (right) doubled to cut the Matador lead to 7-4. After starting righthander Sierra Hyland (12-13) singled to place Mustangs at the corner bases, Tyler scored through a wild pitch unleashed by CSUN reliever Zoe Conley. Conley then walked freshman designated player Stephanie Heyward but, with two Mustangs still on base, sophomore second baseman Ashley Tornio popped out to end the game.

CSUN (28-10, 3-0) opened Sunday's contest by advancing two Matadors into scoring position with one down in the bottom of the first. Hyland, however, forced a fly out from Matadors second baseman Savannah Horvath and a pop out by left fielder Crystal Maas to end the threat.

Cal Poly responded in the top of the second with the game's first run as junior first baseman Briana West scored Heyward with a two-out double into the left field gap.

The Matadors, however, returned in the bottom half of the inning against Hyland to load the bases with none down through a leadoff single by first baseman Ariana Wassmer and bunts from shortstop Madison Fleming and third baseman Maylynn Mitchell. Pinch hitter Daphne Pofek then dropped a single into short left center to tie the game.

The next Matador, designated player Madison Handy, grounded a ball toward third base, but Heyward threw wide of Mustang catcher Susanne Morris. The error allowed two runs to cross home and Hyland later hit a Matador with the bases loaded and unleashed a wild pitch that contributed to CSUN's fifth run of the inning.

After combining for just two hits during the second through fourth innings, Cal Poly began chipping away at CSUN's lead in the top of the fifth. West drew a full-count walk to lead off before junior designated player Betsy Colburn pulled back a bunt attempt and sliced a single through the left side of the infield. Two batters later, senior left fielder Emily Ceccacci doubled into center field to cut Cal Poly's deficit to 5-3.

Following CSUN's five-run second inning, Hyland retired nine of the next 10 Matadors faced. CSUN, however, tacked on its final runs in the bottom half of sixth through a one-out, two-run single up the middle by center fielder Taylor Glover.

Cal Poly (17-20, 0-3) returns to action when hosting UC Santa Barbara at Bob Janssen Field for a three-game April 3-4 series. Series action begins with a 2 p.m. doubleheader on Friday, April 3.