Cal Poly Falls to Notre Dame, UCLA at Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic

Saturday, February 20

Cathedral City, CA

10 am

5-3

Notre Dame

5-3

Notre Dame

Cal Poly

Cal Poly Falls to Notre Dame, UCLA at Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic

2/20/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

CATHEDRAL CITY – First-inning singles from freshman catcher Makenna Young and junior second baseman Ashley Tornio (top) provided the Cal Poly softball program the early lead versus Notre Dame, but the Mustangs scored just once more during their Saturday doubleheader opener at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic and fell, 6-3. Cal Poly also dropped Saturday's second game to No. 8 UCLA, 9-1, in five innings.

During Saturday's opening game at Big League Dreams Sports Park, Young and Tornio provided Cal Poly (5-4) the 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first with successive two-out, run-scoring hits before Notre Dame (5-3) surged ahead with a four-run second. Notre Dame third baseman Melissa Rochford walked to lead off the inning before Mustang starting righthander Sierra Hyland hit shortstop Morgan Reed. Two batters later, left fielder Bailey Bigler doubled to center field to tie the matchup. A two-out, run-scoring base hit from center fielder Ali Wester later in the inning then placed Notre Dame up 4-2.

Cal Poly moved within a run of Notre Dame during the bottom of the fourth as sophomore center fielder Amanda Sandoval singled with two down to score senior first baseman Breana West. During the sequence, however, Mustang sophomore shortstop Chelsea Convissar was thrown out at home attempting to tie the game.

The Mustangs failed to advance a baserunner into scoring position during the final three innings while Notre Dame scored single runs in the sixth and seventh to finalize the scoreline.

In the circle, Hyland (3-2) struck out six, but conceded six hits and four walks.

During Saturday's second matchup versus eighth-ranked UCLA (6-2), the Bruins grabbed the game's only lead with a three-run first inning highlighted by a two-run single from left fielder Gabrielle Maurice.

The Bruins then tripled their lead with a six-run second inning that included a three-run homer by second baseman Kylee Perez.

Retired in order through the first two innings, Cal Poly notched its lone run in the top half of the third. West led off with a double and, with junior Shawna McDonough on to pinch run, a throwing error from Bruin first baseman Taylor Pack on a Convissar bunt brought home McDonough.

Cal Poly, however, enjoyed just two more baserunners the remainder of the day.

Cal Poly concludes Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic action on Sunday, Feb. 21 versus No. 9 Arizona at 11:30 a.m.