20-19, 3-7
CSUN
26-19, 6-4
Cal Poly Softball Drops Saturday Pair to CSUN
4/23/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
SAN LUIS OBISPO – Junior reliever Sierra Hyland struck out five CSUN hitters against just one unearned run during the opening game of a Saturday doubleheader, but the Matadors scored during each of the first three innings and made an early lead stand during a 6-3 decision at Bob Janssen Field. Despite junior left fielder Courtney Tyler's (above) first home run of the season during game No. 2, Cal Poly also fell in the nightcap, 4-1.
During Saturday's opening matchup, CSUN (27-19, 7-4) grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning following successive one-out, run-scoring hits from shortstop Savannah Horvath and catcher Karlie Habitz.
Matador center fielder Taylor Glover then doubled CSUN's lead in the top of the second with a two-out home run over the right field wall.
Offensively, Cal Poly (20-20, 3-8) saw its first five batters retired in order before junior second baseman Ashley Tornio drew a two-out walk in the second. Senior Betsy Colburn followed with a run-scoring triple down the right field line and, two batters later, sophomore shortstop Chelsea Convissar scored Colburn with a base hit through the left side of the infield.
CSUN, however, snatched a run back in the top of the third with left fielder Katelyn Hooper singling through the left side to plate designated player Selina Tajalle.
With Cal Poly trailing 5-2, Hyland relieved starter Stephanie Heyward (2-5) and closed the final four and two-thirds innings with her five strikeouts and by keeping CSUN to one unearned run the remainder of the game.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Mustangs placed runners at the corner bases with one down and Heyward singled up the middle to score Convissar and cut Cal Poly's deficit to 5-3.
Cal Poly, however, stranded a baserunner to close the sixth and, after CSUN notched its final run in the seventh, the Mustangs stranded their seventh baserunner of the game in the seventh.
During Saturday's second game, Cal Poly grabbed the initial lead during the bottom half of the second as Tyler belted her first homer of 2016 over the left field wall.
The Matadors, however, required just one half-inning to equalize as right fielder Mackenzie Babbitt scored Hooper with a one-out single up the middle.
CSUN then surged ahead in the top of the fourth. With the Matadors having loaded the bases with one down, third baseman Maylynn Mitchell grounded a ball to Convissar at shortstop. Pinch runner Taylor Nate beat Convissar's throw to home plate to provide CSUN a 2-1 lead.
Cal Poly's best chance to tie the matchup occurred during the bottom of the sixth, as senior first baseman Breana West bunted her way on with two outs before Tyler drew a full-count walk. Tornio, however, lined out to end the threat.
The Matadors then tacked on their final two runs in the top of the seventh for the 4-1 final scoreline.
Despite striking out three and tossing 70 percent of her 116 pitches for strikes, Mustang starting righthander Lindsey Chalmers fell to 8-11.
Cal Poly and CSUN close the three-game series with a 1 p.m. matchup on Sunday, April 24.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Pofek, Daphne (13-5)
L: Heyward, Stephanie (2-5)
Batting:
2B: Babbitt, Mackenzie 1
HR: Glover, Taylor 1
RBI: Glover, Taylor 2 ; Horvath, Savannah 1 ; Habitz, Karlie 1 ; Hooper, Katie 1
SH: Fleming, Madison 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Babbitt, Mackenzie 2 ; Glover, Taylor 1 ; Horvath, Savannah 1 ; Habitz, Karlie 2
SB: Babbitt, Mackenzie 1 ; Horvath, Savannah 1
CS: Hooper, Katie 1
Batting:
3B: Colburn, Betsy 1
RBI: Hyland, Sierra 1 ; Colburn, Betsy 1 ; Convissar, Chelsea 1
SH: Heyward, Stephanie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Tornio, Ashley 1 ; Colburn, Betsy 1 ; Convissar, Chelsea 1
