Cal Poly Softball Splits Saturday Doubleheader at Cal State Fullerton

Saturday, April 8

Fullerton, CA

12 pm

27-9, 3-1

Cal State Fullerton

19-17, 2-2

Cal Poly

Cal State Fullerton

Cal Poly Softball Splits Saturday Doubleheader at Cal State Fullerton

4/8/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

FULLERTON – The Cal Poly softball program produced just one hit against Cal State Fullerton righthander Cerissa Rivera to open a Saturday doubleheader, but senior left fielder Courtney Tyler's (above) solo home run in the top of the eighth inning proved the difference as senior righthander Sierra Hyland tied the Mustang career record with her 33rd shutout in a 1-0 triumph. Cal Poly, however, settled for a split as a four-run fifth inning from Cal State Fullerton during game No. 2 – coupled with four Mustang errors during the matchup – gave the Titans a 4-2 win.

During Saturday's opening game in which Cal Poly (27-10, 3-2) snapped a seven-game slide versus Cal State Fullerton (20-17, 3-2), Hyland (16-6) struck out two Titans in the bottom of the first and stranded left fielder Samantha Vandiver at third base after she had previously reached on a Mustang throwing error. She struck out two more to close the third and, with the bases loaded and two down in the fourth, Hyland forced a foul out by Titans right fielder Delynn Rippy to keep the matchup scoreless.

Cal State Fullerton opened the fifth with a leadoff hit for the fourth successive inning, but Hyland earned a foul out off the bat of designated player Lexi Gonzalez before first baseman Mikaela Francis hit into a double play to end the inning.

Meanwhile, Cal State Fullerton starting righthander Cerissa Rivera (4-2) retired the first 15 Mustangs she faced before freshman first baseman Hailey Martin opened the sixth by drawing a leadoff walk. Sophomore catcher Makenna Young moved freshman pinch runner Alyssa McKiernan to second with a sacrifice bunt, but Rivera retired the next two Mustangs to end Cal Poly's only threat in the regulation innings.

Cal State Fullerton returned during the bottom half of the sixth with second baseman Sydney Colenzo drawing a one-out walk before two successive Hyland wild pitches moved pinch runner Brooke Clemetson to third base. Hyland, however, worked out of yet another jam by striking out pinch hitter Zoe Richard before catcher Kyle Padilla flew out. Hyland then stranded two more Titans to close the seventh.

Rivera retired Mustang sophomore right fielder Crimson Kaiser to begin the eighth but, two pitches later, Tyler lashed her first homer of 2017 over the left field wall for the 1-0 lead.

Hyland, who stranded 10 Titan baserunners, retired Cal State Fullerton in order to close the matchup. With her 33rd career shutout, Hyland matched the Mustang career record set by All-American Desarie Knipfer (1995-98).

During Saturday's second game, Cal Poly snatched a 1-0 lead in the top of the second as Martin followed a one-out, full-count walk drawn by Tyler with a run-scoring double into right center field.

Handed the lead, Mustang starting righthander Lindsey Chalmers (10-4) allowed a leadoff hit to Titans shortstop Shianne Brannan to open the bottom half of the second before setting down 10 of the next 11 Cal State Fullerton hitters. In the bottom of the fifth, however, Chalmers retired the first two Titans before a Mustang fielding error and successive infield singles from center fielder Ariana Williams and Rippy loaded the bases. Vandiver, Gonzalez and Francis then each unloaded run-scoring hits to provide Cal State Fullerton a 4-1 lead.

Cal Poly answered the deficit in the top of the sixth as Hyland belted her second homer of the season to left center field and cut the gap to 4-2.

Hyland, who relieved Chalmers after Cal State Fullerton's four-run outburst, allowed just one baserunner the remaining of the day. Offensively though, Cal Poly was retired in order during the top of the seventh to close the game.

Cal Poly closes the three-game series with a 1 p.m., ESPN3-broadcasted matchup on Sunday, April 9.