20-21, 3-4
UC Davis
13-21, 1-6
Hyland Strikes Out 11 in Opener, but Cal Poly Splits versus UC Davis
4/11/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
DAVIS, Calif. – Sophomore righthander Sierra Hyland (right) tossed a complete-game, four-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts as the Cal Poly softball program opened a Saturday doubleheader at UC Davis by topping the Aggies in game No. 1, 2-0. Cal Poly, however, trailed from the onset in game No. 2 en route to a 6-2 loss.
During Saturday's opening-game victory, Cal Poly (20-22, 3-5) jumped on UC Davis starting lefthander Leah Munden (8-9) immediately as sophomore right fielder Courtney Tyler followed senior left fielder Emily Ceccacci's leadoff double with a base hit. Hyland then delivered a run-scoring sacrifice fly before freshman third baseman Stephanie Heyward scored Tyler with a run-scoring single.
Staked to the 2-0 advantage before she threw a pitch, Hyland (15-14) – who enjoyed her 12th career double-digit strikeout game and seventh such effort of 2015 – retired the opening six Aggies she faced and 12 of the first 13.
Threatened just once, Hyland hit second baseman Ashley Lotoszynski to lead off the fifth before surrendering a single to third baseman Kelly Zboralske and walking right fielder Megan Salazer to load the bases. Hyland, however, struck out center fielder Krista Bava before forcing shortstop Christa Castello into an inning-ending groundout.
UC Davis (14-21, 2-6) then advanced just one baserunner past first during the sixth and seventh innings. Hyland closed the 98-minute opening game by striking out the UC Davis side in the bottom of the seventh.
Tyler finished with a game-leading two hits in Saturday's opener.
During Saturday's second game, it was UC Davis that delivered the two-run lead in the first inning with Aggies first baseman Amy Nunez producing a two-run single to center field.
Cal Poly responded in the top of the second as sophomore second baseman Ashley Tornio dropped a leadoff triple down the right field line. Two batters later, junior designated player Betsy Colburn grounded out to plate Tornio and halve Cal Poly's disadvantage.
The Aggies, however, added two more runs in the bottom half of the inning. Castello singled with two down and, with a full count, left fielder Brianna Warner lined a ball down the left field line. Ceccacci attempted a diving catch, missed and Warner completed an inside-the-park home run.
The Mustangs added a run in the top of the fourth as Heyward and Tornio delivered successive leadoff singles. Cal Poly junior first baseman Breana West then grounded a ball back to Aggie starting righthander Andrea Reynolds (3-1), who threw low to Zboralske covering third base. The error allowed Heyward to score and Cal Poly, despite leaving the bases loaded, trailed 4-2.
The Aggies though answered Cal Poly once again as, with two down in the bottom of the fifth, Lotoszynski hit a two-run homer to left field to stretch the UC Davis lead to 6-2.
Following its fourth-inning run, Cal Poly failed to advance a baserunner past first until the seventh, when Tyler tripled home freshman shortstop Chelsea Convissar with two outs. However, Aggie righthanded reliever Alicia Paine forced a game-ending fly out from Hyland.
Hyland, who also started game No. 2, suffered the loss after conceding seven hits and walking three Aggies in five innings.
Tyler finished game No. 2 with her team-leading fourth three-hit game of the season.
The Mustangs and Aggies complete their three-game set with a 12 matchup on Sunday, April 12.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hyland, Sierra (15-13)
L: Munden, Leah (8-9)
Batting:
2B: Ceccacci, Emily 1 ; Convissar, Chelsea 1
RBI: Hyland, Sierra 1 ; Heyward, Stephanie 1
SH: Hyland, Sierra 1
SF: Hyland, Sierra 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ceccacci, Emily 1 ; Tyler, Courtney 1
Base Running:
SB: Olson, Kaila 1
HBP: Lotoszynski, A. 1
