Cal Poly Homers Twice, but Falls in Home Finale to Long Beach State, 8-3

Sunday, May 3

12 pm

22-30, 5-13

Long Beach State

25-24, 12-6

Long Beach State

Cal Poly

Cal Poly Homers Twice, but Falls in Home Finale to Long Beach State, 8-3

5/3/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

EMILY CECCACCI SENIOR DAY CEREMONY

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Sophomore righthander Sierra Hyland and junior designated player Betsy Colburn (right) each homered on Sunday afternoon, but the Cal Poly softball program closed its 16-game home schedule at Bob Janssen Field with a 8-3 loss to Long Beach State.

Junior first baseman Breana West finished with a team-leading two hits for Cal Poly (22-30, 5-13), which saw Hyland (17-20) retire the Long Beach State side in the first inning before the 49ers scored twice with two down in the top of the second through a two-run homer from right fielder Hannah Cookson.

The Mustangs responded during the bottom portion of the second as Hyland launched the first pitch she saw of Sunday over the left field fence for her team-leading fifth homer. The shot was also the 11th of her career, allowing Hyland to take over sole possession of fifth place in the Cal Poly career record book.

Long Beach State, however, extended its cushion to a three-run lead in the top of the third after Hyland unfurled a bases-loaded wild pitch that allowed center fielder Leilani Tupua-Tautalatasi to score before a one-out sacrifice fly from first baseman Julia Lombardi brought home left fielder Haley Tobler for the 4-1 advantage.

The Mustangs once again halved Long Beach State's lead as Colburn belted her first home run of 2015 to left field to lead off the third and cut Cal Poly's disadvantage to 4-2.

The 49ers, though, swung back with three additional runs in the top of the fourth inning through a three-run Tobler homer.

Facing a 7-2 deficit, Cal Poly scratched out its final run at home this season in the bottom of the fifth as senior left fielder Emily Ceccacci – playing her final game at Bob Janssen Field – doubled with two outs to plate sophomore pinch runner Shawna McDonough.

Long Beach State added the final run of the day in the top of the seventh with Tupua-Tautalatasi reaching on a bases-loaded fielder's choice that brought home pinch hitter Maddie Scheele.

Cal Poly closes its 55-game regular season schedule with a three-game, May 8-9 series at UC Riverside. The set opens with a 12 noon doubleheader on Friday, May 8.