16-15, 0-4
Cal State Fullerton
29-10, 4-0
Cal Poly Softball Team Drops Saturday Pair to Cal State Fullerton
4/9/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
SAN LUIS OBISPO – Senior right fielder Betsy Colburn (top) provided the Cal Poly softball team an early lead against Cal State Fullerton during Saturday's doubleheader and series opener, but the Titans responded with an eight-run third inning to outdistance the Mustangs, 8-3. Cal Poly also fell in game No. 2 at Bob Janssen Field, 5-1.
During Saturday's doubleheader opener, Cal Poly (16-16, 0-5) grabbed its early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Making her first plate appearance since March 20, junior designated player Sierra Hyland led off with a double. Senior first baseman Breana West followed with a base hit and, two batters later, Colburn produced a run-scoring single to plate sophomore pinch runner Alina Goodrum.
Cal State Fullerton (30-10, 5-0), however, responded in the top of the third with eight runs – six of which were scored with two outs. Mustang starting righthander Lindsey Chalmers (6-9) kept the Titans to a single hit through the opening two innings, but hit shortstop Shianne Brannon to lead off the third. Cal State Fullerton then received hits from left fielder Sammie Vandiver and third baseman Missy Taukeiaho, the latter of which scored Brannon and Vandiver. Two batters later and with down, Titan designated player Sarah Moore increased Cal State Fullerton's lead to 3-1 with a run-scoring double. First baseman Melissa Sechrest followed with a two-run homer before Brannon produced a run-scoring single and right fielder Delynn Rippy drove a two-run triple down the right field line to complete the scoring.
The Mustangs employed baserunners in each of the ensuing three innings before taking two runs back from Cal State Fullerton during the bottom of the sixth. Cal Poly loaded the bases against reliever Christina Washington and, with one down, sophomore shortstop Chelsea Convissar drew a four-pitch walk to plate junior pinch runner Shawna McDonough. Sophomore third baseman Stephanie Heyward then supplied a run-scoring single through the right side of the infield to bring home freshman pinch hitter Sydney James for the 8-3 deficit.
Hyland, West and Heyward each finished with two hits apiece for Cal Poly during game No. 1.
Chalmers walked just one Cal State Fullerton hitter in defeat.
During game No. 2, Cal State Fullerton loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the first against Heyward (0-3) before a fielding error by West at first base on a ball grounded by Moore forced home Vandiver for a 1-0 Titan lead.
Heyward eventually stranded three Titan baserunners to close the top of the first and Cal Poly squared the matchup in the second. With two down and two Mustangs on, Cal Poly catcher Susanne Morris singled to load the bases before Convissar ripped a base hit to center field that brought home West.
Heyward was able to leave two more Titans on to finish the top of the third, but another Cal Poly error led to three Cal State Fullerton runs in the fourth. Second baseman Sydney Colenzo reached to begin the inning following an error from Convissar at shortstop and, with two down, Vandiver delivered the first run-scoring hit of the inning. Taukeiaho followed with a RBI double to plate Vandiver before scoring herself as catcher Alex Gonzalez furthered Cal State Fullerton's lead to 4-1 with a single down the left field line.
The Titans tacked on their final run in the top of the seventh with Sechrest doubling to score pinch runner Ariana Williams.
Cal Poly, which collected seven hits in game No. 2, also stranded seven baserunners.
The Mustangs and Titans close their three-game set with a 1 p.m. matchup on Sunday, April 10.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ybarra, Desiree (9-5)
L: Chalmers, Lindsey (6-9)
Batting:
2B: Moore, Sarah 1
3B: Rippy, Delynn 1
HR: Sechrest, Melissa 1
RBI: Taukeiaho, Missy 2 ; Moore, Sarah 1 ; Sechrest, Melissa 2 ; Brannan, Shianne 1 ; Rippy, Delynn 2
SH: Rippy, Delynn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Vandiver, Samantha 1 ; Taukeiaho, Missy 1 ; Moore, Sarah 1 ; Sechrest, Melissa 1 ; Rodriguez, Courtney 1 ; Colenzo, Sydney 1 ; Brannan, Shianne 2
SB: Vandiver, Samantha 1 ; Taukeiaho, Missy 1 ; Williams, Ariana 1
CS: Rodriguez, Courtney 1
HBP: Vandiver, Samantha 1 ; Brannan, Shianne 1
Batting:
2B: Hyland, Sierra 1
RBI: Heyward, Stephanie 1 ; Colburn, Betsy 1 ; Convissar, Chelsea 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Goodrum, Alina 1 ; McDonough, Shawna 1 ; James, Sydney 1
CS: Heyward, Stephanie 1
HBP: Tyler, Courtney 1
