Cal Poly Softball to Retire Knipfer’s No. 8 on Saturday
4/20/2022 3:08:00 PM | Softball
SAN LUIS OBISPO – The Cal Poly softball program will retire the first jersey number in the team's 48-year varsity history on Saturday, April 23 with two-time NFCA All-America selection Desarie Knipfer's No. 8 set for enshrinement on the outfield wall at Bob Janssen Field prior to a 1 p.m. doubleheader against Long Beach State.Also a two-time NFCA All-West Region selection and twice the Big West Conference Pitcher of the Year honoree (1997-98), Knipfer completed her stellar four-year career in 1998 as the program's all-time leader with 798 strikeouts, 64 victories, 33 shutouts, 85 complete games and 707 innings pitched – marks that stood for 19 seasons.
Ranked seventh in program history with a 1.06 career ERA, Desarie still holds Cal Poly's single game strikeout record of 18, set against Toledo on March 8, 1998. She twice struck out a program record eight consecutive hitters as a senior in 1998, the same year she set the program's consecutive scoreless innings pitched streak (33.1).
"Desarie was a class act and represented the university and the Mustang softball program in the highest manner," said former Cal Poly head coach Lisa Boyer (1989-2004). "She was a dominant force and a fierce competitor. Her stellar performances were key in propelling the team into the NCAA Division I national spotlight and a top 10 national ranking (1997). Desarie's singular impact on Mustang softball can't be overstated and we are all so proud that her jersey will be retired – a well-deserved honor."
On the field Saturday, Cal Poly (14-22, 9-6) – behind an eight-game Big West winning streak – enters Saturday's doubleheader tied for third place in the conference standings alongside Hawai'i (15-15, 9-6). Both programs trail co-leaders Long Beach State (22-17, 12-3) and Cal State Fullerton (28-15, 12-3) by just three games with 12 matchups remaining in the regular season.
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