Hawai'i
Hyland Strikes Out 13, but Cal Poly Softball Falls Late at Hawai'i, 3-2
5/6/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
HONOLULU, O'ahu – Junior righthander Sierra Hyland (top) recorded her ninth double-digit strikeout game of 2016 with 13 Friday evening versus Hawai'i, but two Cal Poly errors during the bottom of the seventh inning led to three Rainbow Wahine runs as the Mustangs fell 3-2.
After producing her 13th strikeout to open the bottom of the seventh inning, Hyland (12-6) conceded a single to second baseman Tayana Mata. A fielding error by Cal Poly sophomore shortstop Alejandra Garcia allowed left fielder Jennifer Iseri to reach before Hawai'i center fielder Sarah Muzik singled to load the bases. Third baseman Nicole Lopez then singled into left field to score Mata and, on the sequence, Cal Poly junior left fielder Courtney Tyler overthrew freshman catcher Makenna Young. The second error brought home Iseri and after Hyland intentionally walked right fielder Keiki Carlos to reload the bases, Hawai'i first baseman Heather Morales delivered the game-winning single to left field.
Cal Poly (23-22, 6-10) grabbed the game's initial lead in the top of the first inning. Sophomore third baseman Stephanie Heyward led the game off with a single up the middle. After sophomore center fielder Amanda Sandoval laid down a successful sacrifice bunt, Hyland grounded a pitch off the glove of Hawai'i starting righthander Brittany Hitchcock (11-14) and into center field to score Heyward for the 1-0 lead.
The Mustangs then doubled their lead in the third with a similar sequence as Heyward reached following a fielding error by Hawai'i shortstop Breanna Ojala before Sandoval put down her 17th sacrifice bunt of the year and Hyland dropped a run-scoring hit inside the right field foul line.
Sandoval's 18 sacrifice bunts rank as the second highest single season total in program history and two shy of Stephanie Tam's 2007 Cal Poly record.
Defensively, Hyland struck out eight of the first 11 hitters she faced – including the Rainbow Wahine sides in the second and third innings.
Hyland allowed nine hits, but just five through the opening six innings. Overall, she tossed 77 percent of her 119 pitches for strikes.
Hyland's 13-strikeout total was her second highest of the year and two shy of her career high of 15. With 679 career strikeouts, Hyland requires just seven more to displace Cal State Fullerton's Gina Oaks (2000-03) for 10th place in Big West Conference history.
The Mustangs and Rainbow Wahine (22-27, 6-10) complete their three-game series with a 5 p.m. PT doubleheader on Saturday, May 7.
