Cal Poly Softball Rallies for Late Lead, but Falls at CSUN, 3-2

Sunday, April 23

Northridge, CA

1 pm

29-15, 5-7

CSUN

27-16, 7-5

Cal Poly

CSUN

Cal Poly Softball Rallies for Late Lead, but Falls at CSUN, 3-2

4/23/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

NORTHRIDGE – Junior center fielder Amanda Sandoval (above) provided the Cal Poly softball program a brief 2-1 lead with a two-out, two-run double in the top of the sixth inning, but CSUN notched single runs in the bottom halves of the sixth and seventh to overtake the Mustangs in Sunday's series finale at Matador Diamond, 3-2.

Senior righthander Sierra Hyland (17-10) struck out five hitters for Cal Poly (29-15, 5-7), which was held hitless by CSUN starting righthander Daphne Pofek (13-6) through the opening five and two-thirds innings. However, Mustang senior second baseman Ashley Tornio broke up the no-hitter with a bunt single. Junior shortstop Chelsea Convissar followed with a walk before junior center fielder Amanda Sandoval sliced a double down the right field line to hand Cal Poly a 2-1 advantage.

CSUN (27-16, 7-5), however, equalized the matchup at 2-2 in the bottom half of the inning as Madison Fleming swatted a double off the base of the left field wall to score center fielder Taylor Glover.

In the bottom of the seventh, it was Glover that produced the winning run as the Big West Conference's leading hitter doubled with one down to bring home third baseman Tara Kliebenstein from second for the 3-2 decision.

CSUN struck the opening offensive blow Sunday with leadoff Matador Mackenzie Babbitt reaching second through a fielding error by Mustang junior third baseman Stephanie Heyward before moving to third through a Glover sacrifice bunt and scoring on designated player Jessica Alexander's sacrifice fly.

Pofek, meanwhile, faced the minimum number of Mustangs through the opening four innings. Senior left fielder Courtney Tyler reached on a CSUN fielding error with one down in the second, but was erased after sophomore first baseman Hailey Martin grounded into the first of two double plays. In the fourth, Pofek struck Heyward with two outs, but Cal Poly's third baseman was throw out attempting to steal second.

Cal Poly plays two of its final three series of 2017 on the road, beginning with an April 29-30 series at UC Davis. The three-game series gets underway with a 12 noon doubleheader on Saturday, April 29.