17-17, 1-6
Long Beach State
24-14, 4-3
Cal Poly Earns First Big West Wins of 2016 with Doubleheader Sweep
4/16/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
LONG BEACH STATE – Sophomore righthander Lindsey Chalmers tossed a complete-game, four-hit shutout Saturday afternoon as the Cal Poly softball program opened a doubleheader at Long Beach State by earning its first Big West Conference win of 2016 with a 1-0 decision. Cal Poly completed the sweep in game No. 2 as sophomore righthander Stephanie Heyward (top) earned her first collegiate victory after pitching a complete-game, three-hitter with four strikeouts in a 4-1 Mustang triumph.
During Saturday's opening matchup, Long Beach State (24-15, 4-4) loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the first inning, but Chalmers (7-9) forced a flyout from 49er designated player Tierra Falo and struck out first baseman Julia Lombardi to cap the threat.
Meanwhile, Long Beach State starting righthander Christina Clermont (14-6) was perfect the first time through Cal Poly's lineup. However, Heyward – starting Saturday's opener as Cal Poly's designated player – led off the top of the fourth with a single to left center and sophomore center fielder Amanda Sandoval reached on a fielding error by 49er third baseman Darian Tautalafua. The next two Mustangs – senior first baseman Breana West and junior second baseman Ashley Tornio – each drew full-count walks as Heyward was forced home for the 1-0 advantage.
Staked to the lead, Chalmers faced the minimum number of hitters in the fourth and fifth after Mustang freshman catcher Makenna Young twice threw out a 49er baserunner at second to end each inning.
Chalmers returned in the sixth and seventh to set down Long Beach State in order each time to earn her third shutout victory of 2016. Overall, Chalmers faced just five hitters over the minimum.
During Saturday's second game, Heyward (1-4) – making her fifth pitching start of the season – kept Long Beach State to a single hit and stranded three 49ers during the opening two innings before helping herself with a leadoff double to begin the third. Two batters later, junior designated player Sierra Hyland picked up her first hit of the day and placed Cal Poly up 1-0 with a one-out double to right center.
West then followed by doubling up against the left field fence to bring Hyland home for a 2-0 advantage.
With the lead, Heyward returned to the circle in the third and, with two 49ers on and two down, struck out Lombardi to close the inning.
Long Beach State eventually scratched out its only run of the doubleheader with one down in the fourth as a groundout from center fielder Alley Perkins brought home pinch hitter Lauren MacLeod.
That was the extent of Long Beach State's comeback. Heyward retired the 49ers in order during the fifth and stranded a baserunner in scoring position to close the sixth.
Offensively, the Mustangs helped place the game out of Long Beach State's reach in the top of the seventh. With two outs, Sandoval and Hyland strung together singles before West doubled into left center to further Cal Poly's lead to 4-1.
Saturday's doubleheader sweep marked the first time Cal Poly had won successive Big West road games since sweeping a May 2014 three-game series from Long Beach State.
Cal Poly (18-17, 2-6) closes its three-game series at Long Beach State with a 1 p.m. matchup on Sunday, April 17.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Chalmers, Lindsey (7-9)
L: Clermont, Christina (14-6)
Batting:
RBI: Tornio, Ashley 1
SH: Tyler, Courtney 1 ; Convissar, Chelsea 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Heyward, Stephanie 1
HBP: James, Sydney 1
Batting:
SH: Fry, Nichole 1
Base Running:
CS: Perkins, Alley 1 ; Nogosek, Jessica 1
