Saturday, March 16
Northridge, CA
1 p.m.
at
CSUN
Photo by: Kyle Calzia
Mustangs Begin Big West Action at CSUN March 16-17
3/13/2024 1:17:00 PM | Softball
SAN LUIS OBISPO – The Cal Poly softball program opens its 27th season of Big West action when visiting CSUN for a three-game, March 16-17 series. With action broadcast on ESPN+, series play at Matador Diamond opens with a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday, March 16 before closing with a 1 p.m. single matchup on Sunday, March 17. The Big West's top offensive side, Cal Poly (10-9) ranks first among conference programs with a .291 batting and .371 on-base percentage with just 58 strikeouts in 622 plate appearances. Including junior center fielder Jessica Clements (above) – third among Division I players with a .515 batting average – the Mustangs also feature three of the Big West's top eight hitters. Opening Big West play against CSUN for the fourth successive year, Cal Poly has won just one of its last five conference-opening series (taking two of three from the Matadors in 2021). CSUN (16-7), owners of the Big West's best record entering conference play, closed Fresno State's Bulldog Classic (March 8-9) with three successive losses. CSUN's 2.44 staff ERA trails only Cal State Fullerton (2.30) for the Big West lead.
FOLLOW CAL POLY AT CSUN: Coverage via ESPN+ and live stats will be available HERE for Cal Poly's March 16-17 series at CSUN.
CAL POLY VERSUS CSUN: Dropping two of three home games to CSUN last spring and swept at Matador Diamond in 2022, Cal Poly seeks its first series victory since winning twice to open the 2021 Big West campaign. Having dropped its last six road series at CSUN, Cal Poly also looks for its away series win since sweeping the Matadors in 2009. CSUN leads the all-time series, 89-59-1, dating to the first matchup – a Cal Poly home doubleheader sweep – on April 30, 1977.
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 third among NCAA Division I hitters with a .515 (34-for-66) batting average and 18th with 34 hits. Also the Big West leader for slugging percentage (.727) and doubles (seven) and ranked third in on-base percentage (.562) and sixth in runs scored (14), Clements has hit safely in 17 of 19 matchups this season with 13 multi-hit efforts. Averaging 1.8 hits per game, she's also struck out just three times. Through 109 career games, Clements remains the top batter in program history with a .414 (157-for-379) career mark.
DIAZ ON THE RISE: Batting 106 points higher than her .254 career average entering the season, senior shortstop Xiara Diaz begins Big West play ranked seventh among conference players with a .360 (18-for-50) mark. Having reached base in all but three appearances, Diaz also ranks fifth among Big West players with 11 walks and sixth with .484 on-base percentage. A starter in 109 successive games for Cal Poly, Diaz ranks third in program history with 31 steals.
GOOD JUJU: Helping to provide Cal Poly three of the Big West's top eight hitters is senior right fielder Juju Sargent, who has reached base in 18 of 19 matchups and takes a .354 (23-for-65) batting average into the March 16-17 series at CSUN. Having hit safely 15 times, Sargent also sits fourth among Big West players with 15 runs scored and fifth with 23 hits and five doubles.
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 23-24): After playing its first 22 matchups away from home, Cal Poly opens its 12-game home schedule – and a six-game home stand – at Bob Janssen Field against UC Riverside March 23-24. The Highlanders (6-14) start Big West action at Long Beach State (4-21) March 16-17.
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 the 2005 season 5-0.
FOLLOW CAL POLY AT CSUN: Coverage via ESPN+ and live stats will be available HERE for Cal Poly's March 16-17 series at CSUN.
CAL POLY VERSUS CSUN: Dropping two of three home games to CSUN last spring and swept at Matador Diamond in 2022, Cal Poly seeks its first series victory since winning twice to open the 2021 Big West campaign. Having dropped its last six road series at CSUN, Cal Poly also looks for its away series win since sweeping the Matadors in 2009. CSUN leads the all-time series, 89-59-1, dating to the first matchup – a Cal Poly home doubleheader sweep – on April 30, 1977.
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 third among NCAA Division I hitters with a .515 (34-for-66) batting average and 18th with 34 hits. Also the Big West leader for slugging percentage (.727) and doubles (seven) and ranked third in on-base percentage (.562) and sixth in runs scored (14), Clements has hit safely in 17 of 19 matchups this season with 13 multi-hit efforts. Averaging 1.8 hits per game, she's also struck out just three times. Through 109 career games, Clements remains the top batter in program history with a .414 (157-for-379) career mark.
DIAZ ON THE RISE: Batting 106 points higher than her .254 career average entering the season, senior shortstop Xiara Diaz begins Big West play ranked seventh among conference players with a .360 (18-for-50) mark. Having reached base in all but three appearances, Diaz also ranks fifth among Big West players with 11 walks and sixth with .484 on-base percentage. A starter in 109 successive games for Cal Poly, Diaz ranks third in program history with 31 steals.
GOOD JUJU: Helping to provide Cal Poly three of the Big West's top eight hitters is senior right fielder Juju Sargent, who has reached base in 18 of 19 matchups and takes a .354 (23-for-65) batting average into the March 16-17 series at CSUN. Having hit safely 15 times, Sargent also sits fourth among Big West players with 15 runs scored and fifth with 23 hits and five doubles.
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 23-24): After playing its first 22 matchups away from home, Cal Poly opens its 12-game home schedule – and a six-game home stand – at Bob Janssen Field against UC Riverside March 23-24. The Highlanders (6-14) start Big West action at Long Beach State (4-21) March 16-17.
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 the 2005 season 5-0.
Players Mentioned
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