Cal Poly Storms Back to Split Thursday Pair at Garman Classic

Thursday, February 27

Fullerton, CA

10 am

9-6

BYU

9-5

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Cal Poly	0	0	0	1	0	1	1	2
Brigham Young	2	3	3	1	X	9	7	2

Cal Poly Storms Back to Split Thursday Pair at Garman Classic

2/27/2020 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

FULLERTON – Senior righthander Steffi Best (above) struck out a season high six Illinois hitters and the Cal Poly softball program produced 15 hits in a 12-2, five-inning victory against the Fighting Illini Thursday afternoon to earn a split of its opening-day doubleheader at the Cal State Fullerton-hosted Judi Garman Classic. Cal Poly, however, was held to just one hit by BYU in Thursday's opener and dropped a 9-1, five-inning decision to the Cougars.

During Thursday's victory against Illinois (7-6), Cal Poly (10-6) opened the matchup with a six-run effort in the top of the first inning highlighted by run-scoring hits from freshman shortstop Xiara Diaz, sophomore third baseman Maddie Amos and freshman catcher Kai Barrett.

Illinois produced both of its runs during the bottom half of the first with third baseman Delaney Rummell and catcher Bella Loya providing run-scoring hits.

Limited to one hit in the second, Cal Poly added four runs in the third to take a 10-2 advantage with junior second baseman Sarah Wulff and senior designated player Shelby Jeffries supplying RBI hits to help place the game in run-rule territory.

In the circle, Best (3-3) kept Illinois to five total hits during the final four innings and stranded five baserunners to preserve Cal Poly's run-rule lead. She conceded just one walk in the 83-pitch victory.

After Cal Poly tacked on its final two runs in the top half of the fifth, Best struck out the final two Illinois batters to complete the game.

Wulff finished 3-for-4 versus Illinois, which committed six errors.

During Thursday's tournament opener versus BYU (9-5), the Cougars notched the eventual winning runs in the bottom of the first inning as first baseman Huntyr Ava produced a two-run homer to right field.

BYU then tacked on three additional runs in the second, highlighted by a two-out, two-run double from center fielder Rylee Jensen-McFarland

BYU then added three more runs in the third and one in the fourth to help complete the run-rule victory.

Cal Poly saw its first nine hitters retired in order before freshman right fielder Sydney Frankenberger reached on a BYU fielding error to lead off the fourth. Frankenberger advanced to third base on successive Mustang groundouts before scoring Cal Poly's lone run through another BYU error off a Diaz grounder.

Senior first baseman Hailey Martin collected Cal Poly's solo hit in the fifth through a leadoff single.

Cal Poly continues Judi Garman Classic play on Friday, Feb. 28 against Grand Canyon at 8:15 p.m.