Photo by: Owen Main
Cal Poly to Play Revised Schedule at Lancer Joust
2/28/2024 5:30:00 PM | Softball
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – The Cal Poly softball program completes preparations for Big West action with five games at the California Baptist-hosted Lancer Joust from Feb. 29 to March 3. Due to the possibility of inclement weather, the Mustangs will play a revised schedule that moves games away from Saturday and onto Thursday and Sunday. Cal Poly (7-7), which won seven of its first nine matchups to begin the season, looks to snap a five-game slide when opening the Lancer Joust on Thursday, Feb. 29 against California Baptist (7-7) at 5:30 p.m. Action continues Friday, March 1 with a doubleheader against Saint John's (5-6) at 10:00 a.m. and against Idaho State (11-6) at 12:30 p.m. before a one day scheduled break in games due to the weather. Cal Poly completes Lancer Joust play – and the 19-game, non-conference portion of its schedule – on Sunday, March 3 against Idaho State and California Baptist. Collectively, in 50 varsity seasons, Cal Poly has played just nine total games against its upcoming trio of opponents.
FOLLOW CAL POLY THIS WEEK: Live stats for all five matchups and ESPN+ coverage from Cal Poly's pair of matchups with California Baptist will be available via GoPoly.com HERE.
CAL POLY VERSUS LANCER JOUST OPPONENTS: The Mustangs improved to 2-1 all-time against Idaho State with a 6-5, eight-inning victory at home on Feb. 21, 2023. The two programs also split a pair of matchups at the 2017 Bulldog Classic (Fresno, Calif.) … one of Cal Poly's oldest opponents, the Mustangs first met California Baptist on May 8, 1976, sweeping on a home doubleheader. The two sides most recently played on Feb. 22, 2020 with Cal Poly handing the Lancers a 12-0, five-inning defeat, improving the all-time series to 5-0 … Cal Poly has captured both previous matchups with St. John's, prevailing on March 8, 2003 (Las Vegas) and Feb. 28, 2015 (San Diego) by identical 3-2 scorelines.
CLEMENTS REMAINS CAL POLY'S CATALYST: Dropping to second in Cal Poly's batting order after spending her first 90 games in the leadoff position has only emboldened center fielder Jessica Clements at the plate as the junior ranks fourth among Big West hitters with a .531 (17-for-32) batting average. Having already hit safely in eight of nine games and with seven multi-hit outings thus far, Clements – the Feb. 12 Big West Player of the Week honoree – leads the conference with four doubles while ranking second with 17 hits and 32 total bases and third with nine runs. Through 99 career games, Clements remains the top batter in program history with a .406 (140-for-345) career mark.
BLANCHARD ON THE RISE: Sophomore outfielder Kiara Blanchard broke out with a massive individual week, earning her first career Big West Field Player of the Week award on Monday, Feb. 26. Blanchard racked up nine hits across five games, tallying five hits during the first two days of competition at the Mary Nutter Classic against Rutgers and Illinois. On the final day, Blanchard blasted four hits for Cal Poly including three crucial swings against No. 21 California that get the game close in a 3-2 loss. Blanchard sits at a .364 batting average (14th in The Big West) with 16 total strikeouts.
JUDY LEADS IN THE CIRCLE: Limited to just five appearances and 10.0 innings last spring, junior right-hander Kate Judy (3-4) heads the Cal Poly pitching staff. Judy, the Feb. 12 Big West Pitcher of the Week honoree, has not conceded an earned run in her three victories. An eight-strikeout performance against Middle Tennessee (Feb. 10) marked the third highest total of her career. She currently sits 12th in the Big West with a 3.88 ERA, tied for 4th with three wins, and 8th with 20 strikeouts.
CAL POLY SELECTED SEVENTH IN BIG WEST POLL: Despite returning starters at all 10 positions and welcoming back all three All-Big West selections from 2023, Cal Poly was selected seventh in the conference preseason coaches' poll. The Mustangs received 31 total points in the poll – 15 behind sixth place Hawai'i. Cal State Fullerton – second in the Big West standings a season ago – was selected to capture the 2024 title with 77 points and six first-place votes. Defending champion Long Beach State was second in the poll, right behind the Titans on 75 points and with the remaining four first-place votes.
LOOKING AHEAD (MARCH 16-17): Following a 12-day break, Cal Poly opens its 28th season of Big West action when visiting CSUN for a three-game series that starts with a Saturday doubleheader on March 16.
ETC.: The Cal Poly program is in its 50th varsity season in 2024 and 20th year under head coach Jenny Condon … Cal Poly's 5-0 start to the year was its best since beginning coach Condon's 2005 debut season 5-0.
FOLLOW CAL POLY THIS WEEK: Live stats for all five matchups and ESPN+ coverage from Cal Poly's pair of matchups with California Baptist will be available via GoPoly.com HERE.
CAL POLY VERSUS LANCER JOUST OPPONENTS: The Mustangs improved to 2-1 all-time against Idaho State with a 6-5, eight-inning victory at home on Feb. 21, 2023. The two programs also split a pair of matchups at the 2017 Bulldog Classic (Fresno, Calif.) … one of Cal Poly's oldest opponents, the Mustangs first met California Baptist on May 8, 1976, sweeping on a home doubleheader. The two sides most recently played on Feb. 22, 2020 with Cal Poly handing the Lancers a 12-0, five-inning defeat, improving the all-time series to 5-0 … Cal Poly has captured both previous matchups with St. John's, prevailing on March 8, 2003 (Las Vegas) and Feb. 28, 2015 (San Diego) by identical 3-2 scorelines.
CLEMENTS REMAINS CAL POLY'S CATALYST: Dropping to second in Cal Poly's batting order after spending her first 90 games in the leadoff position has only emboldened center fielder Jessica Clements at the plate as the junior ranks fourth among Big West hitters with a .531 (17-for-32) batting average. Having already hit safely in eight of nine games and with seven multi-hit outings thus far, Clements – the Feb. 12 Big West Player of the Week honoree – leads the conference with four doubles while ranking second with 17 hits and 32 total bases and third with nine runs. Through 99 career games, Clements remains the top batter in program history with a .406 (140-for-345) career mark.
BLANCHARD ON THE RISE: Sophomore outfielder Kiara Blanchard broke out with a massive individual week, earning her first career Big West Field Player of the Week award on Monday, Feb. 26. Blanchard racked up nine hits across five games, tallying five hits during the first two days of competition at the Mary Nutter Classic against Rutgers and Illinois. On the final day, Blanchard blasted four hits for Cal Poly including three crucial swings against No. 21 California that get the game close in a 3-2 loss. Blanchard sits at a .364 batting average (14th in The Big West) with 16 total strikeouts.
JUDY LEADS IN THE CIRCLE: Limited to just five appearances and 10.0 innings last spring, junior right-hander Kate Judy (3-4) heads the Cal Poly pitching staff. Judy, the Feb. 12 Big West Pitcher of the Week honoree, has not conceded an earned run in her three victories. An eight-strikeout performance against Middle Tennessee (Feb. 10) marked the third highest total of her career. She currently sits 12th in the Big West with a 3.88 ERA, tied for 4th with three wins, and 8th with 20 strikeouts.
CAL POLY SELECTED SEVENTH IN BIG WEST POLL: Despite returning starters at all 10 positions and welcoming back all three All-Big West selections from 2023, Cal Poly was selected seventh in the conference preseason coaches' poll. The Mustangs received 31 total points in the poll – 15 behind sixth place Hawai'i. Cal State Fullerton – second in the Big West standings a season ago – was selected to capture the 2024 title with 77 points and six first-place votes. Defending champion Long Beach State was second in the poll, right behind the Titans on 75 points and with the remaining four first-place votes.
LOOKING AHEAD (MARCH 16-17): Following a 12-day break, Cal Poly opens its 28th season of Big West action when visiting CSUN for a three-game series that starts with a Saturday doubleheader on March 16.
ETC.: The Cal Poly program is in its 50th varsity season in 2024 and 20th year under head coach Jenny Condon … Cal Poly's 5-0 start to the year was its best since beginning coach Condon's 2005 debut season 5-0.
Players Mentioned
Cal Poly vs. UC Riverside, Softball Highlights -- Mar 28th, 2026 Game 2
Sunday, March 29
Cal Poly vs. UC Riverside, Softball Highlights -- Mar 28th, 2026 Game 1
Sunday, March 29
Cal Poly vs. Santa Clara, Softball Highlights -- Feb 24th, 2026
Wednesday, February 25
Cal Poly vs. SJSU, Softball Highlights -- Feb 22nd, 2026
Monday, February 23
