Cal Poly Edges San Diego in Seventh to Split Friday Doubleheader

Friday, March 6

2 pm

8-14

Southern Utah

4-12

Southern Utah

Cal Poly

Cal Poly Edges San Diego in Seventh to Split Friday Doubleheader

3/6/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

MUSTANG CLASSIC HOME PAGE

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Sophomore righthander Sierra Hyland struck out 10 – her fifth double-digit strikeout performance of the year – and senior left fielder Emily Ceccacci's (right) run-scoring single in the bottom of the seventh was the decisive run as the Cal Poly softball program closed a Friday doubleheader at the ShareSLO Mustang Classic by edging San Diego, 1-0. Cal Poly, however, dropped its opener to Southern Utah, 3-2.

During Friday's second game versus San Diego (10-11), Hyland (7-8) struck out the side in the first inning and, despite walking Toreros shortstop Danielle Mavridis to open the third, faced the minimum number of hitters through four innings.

San Diego right fielder Kailey Hill broke up Hyland's no-hitter with a leadoff single to begin the fifth. However, Mustang freshman catcher Susanne Morris cut down Hill's replacement – pinch runner Morgan Kurtz – on an attempted steal and Hyland recorded the next two outs to preserve the minimum number of hitters faced through five.

The Toreros added a second hit in the sixth and stranded two runners, but Hyland retired the San Diego side in the seventh to remain in contention for victory.

Offensively, Cal Poly stranded nine baserunners – including three in the first – before finding the winning run in the seventh. With one down, junior first baseman Breana West singled and, with freshman Nicole Coppinger on to run, Morris singled to place two Mustangs on. Freshman third baseman Amanda Sandoval then drew a four-pitch walk before Ceccacci lined in a single into right center field as Coppinger – in her first collegiate appearance – scored the winning run.

During Friday's opening contest versus Southern Utah (4-12), Mustang starting righthander Lindsey Chalmers (2-5) kept the Thunderbirds to a single hit through the opening two innings. In the third, however, Southern Utah struck for the opening run as catcher Lindsey Healey followed successive two-out hits from center fielder Kylee Wolf and second baseman Sara Park with a run-scoring single up the middle.

The Thunderbirds then doubled their lead in the fourth. With two down, first baseman Katie Greenberg drew a full-count walk before stealing second, advancing to third on an infield hit from right fielder Taylor Dumas and scoring through a single down the right field line by Tanisha Anderson.

Kept hitless through the opening four innings by Southern Utah starting righthander Ashley Ostler (1-4), Cal Poly scratched out its opening run in the fifth with junior pinch hitter Betsy Colburn grounding out to plate freshman designated player Stephanie Heyward, who led off with a double.

After Southern Utah extended its lead to 3-1 in the top of the seventh, Cal Poly enjoyed one final chance to match in the bottom half of the inning. Sophomore second baseman Ashley Tornio produced a leadoff double before moving to third through a Heyward groundout. Freshman shortstop Chelsea Convissar scored Tornio with a sacrifice fly, but West fouled out to end the game.

Action for Cal Poly at the Mustang Classic continues on Saturday, March 7 versus Sacramento State at 2 p.m.

2015 ShareSLO Mustang Classic
Bob Janssen Field (San Luis Obispo, Calif.)

Thursday, March 5
IUPUI 5, Cal Poly 2
IUPUI 5, Cal Poly 2

Friday, March 6
Sacramento State 4, San Diego 2
Sacramento State 2, IUPUI 1
Southern Utah 3, Cal Poly 2
Cal Poly 1, San Diego 0
IUPUI vs. Southern Utah, 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 7
Sacramento State vs. Bryant, 9 a.m.
Bryant vs. IUPUI, 11:30 a.m.
Sacramento State at Cal Poly, 2 p.m.
Southern Utah vs. San Diego, 4:30 p.m.
Bryant vs. Southern Utah, 7 p.m.

Sunday, March 8
San Diego vs. Southern Utah, 9 a.m.
San Diego vs. Bryant, 11:30 a.m.
Bryant at Cal Poly, 2 p.m.