Cal Poly Wins Opener in Eight, but Splits Doubleheader versus Illinois

Saturday, March 17

Fresno, Calif.

2 pm

14-9

Illinois

15-9

Illinois

Cal Poly

Cal Poly Wins Opener in Eight, but Splits Doubleheader versus Illinois

3/17/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

FRESNO – Sophomore first baseman Hailey Martin's one-out single in the bottom of the eighth inning scored senior third baseman Stephanie Heyward to provide the Cal Poly softball program a 4-3 victory against Illinois to open a Saturday doubleheader at the Fresno State Friendly tournament. Cal Poly, however, settled for a doubleheader split after Illinois produced a four-run third inning during game No. 2 as part of 5-3 decision.

During Saturday's opening victory versus Illinois, Cal Poly righthanded reliever Shelby Jeffries (1-2) earned her first collegiate victory by keeping Illinois (15-9) hitless during the top half of the eighth and, with the international tiebreaker in effect, Heyward began the bottom half of the inning on second base. Junior right fielder Crimson Kaiser then laid down a sacrifice bunt to send Heyward to third base before Martin (above) produced her game-winning single through the right side of the infield.

It was the Illini who snatched the early lead during game No. 1 as right fielder Maddi Doane singled with two down to drive in center fielder Kiana Sherlund.

Cal Poly (15-10) tied the game at the first opportunity, however, as junior right fielder Crimson Kaiser lined the first pitch she saw from Illinois starting righthander Emily Oestreich into left center to score senior third baseman Stephanie Heyward.

Mustang starting righthander Lindsey Chalmers kept Illinois hitless during the second and third innings and Cal Poly grabbed the lead in the bottom half of the third. With freshman left fielder Noelleh Ramos on third base after doubling and Heyward on first after a single, Kaiser produced a one-out sacrifice fly to left that brought home Ramos. Martin followed with a single before Jeffries – who began the game at designated player – lined a single off the top of the center field wall to plate Heyward for a 3-1 Mustang advantage.

Illinois, however, grabbed a run back in the top of the fourth with catcher Bella Loya homering to left center. The Illini then knotted the matchup in the fifth as Sherlund followed shortstop Leigh Farina's one-out triple with a run-scoring single.

After scoring twice in the third, Cal Poly was kept to just two hits between the fourth and seventh innings. Chalmers, however, stranded two Illinois baserunners to close the top of the sixth before giving way in the circle to Jeffries, who kept Illinois hitless the rest of the way.

Ramos finished with a career high three hits in the opener.

During game No. 2 of Saturday's doubleheader, Cal Poly was limited to just a solitary hit through the opening three innings and Illinois jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the third highlighted by second baseman Alexis Carillo's two-run, two-out double.

Illinois then went up 5-0 in the bottom of the fourth after Sherlund homered to right center.

Cal Poly eventually worked its way onto the scoreboard in the top of the fifth with Martin doubling to lead off before Jeffries reached on a throwing error by Farina at shortstop. Mustang junior catcher Makenna Young then delivered a one-out, run-scoring double before Sandoval lined Cal Poly's third double of the inning into left field to trim the Illinois lead to 5-3.

The Mustangs, however, collected just one hit during the final two innings in the defeat.

Cal Poly sophomore starting righthander Steffi Best (3-2) took the loss after conceding the Illini's opening four runs.

Cal Poly concludes Fresno State Friendly play on Sunday, March 18 with an 11 a.m. doubleheader versus the host Bulldogs.

Photo courtesy of Arionne Thomas