21-22, 4-5
UC Davis
14-22, 2-7
Mustangs Make First-Inning Lead Stand in 2-1 Win at UC Davis
4/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
DAVIS, Calif. – Sophomore righthander Sierra Hyland struck out five UC Davis hitters in a complete-game victory and freshman third baseman Stephanie Heyward's two-out, two-run triple in the top of the first inning stood as the decisive margin Sunday afternoon as the Cal Poly softball team edged the Aggies at LaRue Field, 2-1.
Winners of four of the previous six games and of back-to-back series, Cal Poly (21-22, 4-5) – with Sunday's triumph – posted its first series victory against UC Davis since 2011. The Mustangs and Aggies (14-22, 2-7) split Saturday's series-opening doubleheader. Cal Poly also improved to 9-6 this season in one-run games.
Leading Sunday's series finale from the onset, Cal Poly – for a second successive day – grabbed a lead before UC Davis had the opportunity to bat. With two down in the top of the first inning, sophomore right fielder Courtney Tyler singled and Hyland followed by drawing a full-count walk. Heyward (right) – who produced two of Cal Poly's five hits – then drove a pitch into right center field to score Tyler and Hyland for a 2-0 advantage.
In the circle, Hyland kept UC Davis without a hit and to just one baserunner past first until there was one down in the third and sophomore second baseman Ashley Tornio dropped a throw from freshman shortstop Chelsea Convissar while attempting to start an inning-ending double play. A groundout from Aggie designated player Alexis Carney then moved two UC Davis baserunners into scoring position with two down before first baseman Amy Nunez delivered a run-scoring single to cut Cal Poly's lead to 2-1.
Hyland conceded six hits on the afternoon, walked four and stranded 11 Aggie baserunners, but the third-inning run was the only one allowed by the Big West Conference's strikeout leader. UC Davis loaded the bases with two outs in the fifth, but Hyland struck out Aggie pinch hitter Megan Salazar. Hyland then stranded Aggie center fielder Krista Bava at third base to close the sixth following a leadoff double.
Cal Poly returns home to host Hawai'i for a three-game April 17-18 series. The set opens with a 4 p.m. single matchup on Friday, April 17.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hyland, Sierra (16-14)
L: Munden, Leah (8-10)
Batting:
3B: Heyward, Stephanie 1
RBI: Heyward, Stephanie 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Tyler, Courtney 1 ; Hyland, Sierra 1
CS: Ceccacci, Emily 1
Batting:
2B: Bava, Krista 1
RBI: Nunez, Amy 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Castello, Christa 1
SB: Warner, Brianna 2 ; Lotoszynski, A. 1
HBP: Robertson, Katie 1
