Cal Poly Tops Santa Clara in Nine, Falls to Host Stanford on Saturday

Saturday, February 24

Stanford, Calif.

12 pm

6-6

Santa Clara

0-8

Cal Poly

Santa Clara

Cal Poly Tops Santa Clara in Nine, Falls to Host Stanford on Saturday

2/24/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

STANFORD – A three-run homer from junior right fielder Crimson Kaiser helped break a 4-4 deadlock in the top of the ninth inning for the Cal Poly softball program Saturday afternoon as the Mustangs began a doubleheader at the Stanford Nike Invitational with a 9-6, extra-inning victory against Santa Clara. Cal Poly, however, fell to host Stanford, 7-3, in Saturday's second game.

During Saturday's opening victory versus Santa Clara (0-8), Cal Poly (6-7) trailed the Broncos 4-1 entering the top of the seventh. With one down, however, senior center fielder Amanda Sandoval singled before a run-scoring triple by senior shortstop Chelsea Convissar trimmed Santa Clara's lead in half. Freshman left fielder Noellah Ramos then drew a walk before senior third baseman Stephanie Heyward (above) delivered a two-run double to tie the matchup, 4-4.

With the international tiebreaker rule in effect to begin extra innings, neither side scored in the eighth. The Mustangs, however, notched five runs in the top of the ninth through Kaiser's three-run homer and a two-run triple from Sandoval.

Handed the 9-4 lead, sophomore righthander Steffi Best (2-1) – who tossed the final five innings for Cal Poly – allowed two Santa Clara runs during the bottom half of the ninth. Best, however, struck out four against just one walk to earn the victory.

Heyward and Kaiser each finished with a game high three hit for Cal Poly versus Santa Clara.

During Saturday's second game versus Stanford (9-6), the Cardinal grabbed a 2-0 lead off of Mustang starting righthander Dakota Casper (1-3) in the bottom of the first inning through run-scoring hits from catcher Montana Dixon and first baseman Arden Pettit.

Stanford doubled its lead in the fourth through a two-out, two-run double by Dixon before the Cardinal notched three more runs in the sixth.

Offensively, Cal Poly produced five hits through the opening five innings versus Stanford starter Maddy Dwyer (5-4) before eventually breaking onto the scoreboard in the top of the seventh with Heyward producing a run-scoring single to plate junior catcher Makenna Young before sophomore first baseman Hailey Martin doubled to bring home Sandoval and Convissar for the 7-3 deficit.

Ramos enjoyed a team leading two hits for Cal Poly versus Stanford.

Cal Poly closes Stanford Nike Invitational play on Sunday, Feb. 25 with an 11 a.m. rematch against Stanford.

Photo courtesy of Arionne Thomas