Saturday, March 16
Northridge, CA
1 p.m.
11-9, 1-0
3
at
2
CSUN
16-8, 0-1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Cal Poly
1
0
1
0
1
0
0
3
8
2
CSUN
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
2
3
2
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ramuno, Sophia (3-4)
L: Carranco, Lauryn (8-5)
Batting:
2B: Blanchard, Kiara 1
3B: Clements, Jessica 1
RBI: Diaz, Xiara 2 ; Blanchard, Kiara 1
SH: Barnett, Julia 1
SF: Diaz, Xiara 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Clements, Jessica 2 ; Diaz, Xiara 1
SB: Diaz, Xiara 1
Batting:
HR: Sanchez, Lulu 1
RBI: Sanchez, Lulu 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Jackson, Raegan 1 ; Sanchez, Lulu 1
CS: Liana, Jerzie 1
HBP: San Pedro, Makenzie 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
OF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
Photo by: Kyle Calzia
Mustangs Start Big West Action with Pair of 3-2 Wins
3/16/2024 3:54:00 PM | Softball
NORTHRIDGE – Sophomore righthander Sophia Ramuno struck out eight and allowed just two hits and senior shortstop Xiara Diaz (above) drove home two – including the eventual game-winning run in the fifth inning – as the Cal Poly softball program opened its 27th Big West season, a three-game series with CSUN and a Saturday doubleheader with a 3-2 victory. Cal Poly then prevailed by the same scoreline in Saturday's second game at Matador Diamond as sophomore left fielder Kiara Blanchard's one-out single in the top of the seventh drove home Diaz for the decisive run.
During Saturday's opening 3-2 victory, Cal Poly (12-9, 2-0) assumed the matchup's only lead during the top of the first inning after Blanchard doubled home Diaz with two down.
Two innings later, junior center fielder Jessica Clements – the Big West's leading hitter with a .514 mark – produced a leadoff single before reaching third through a CSUN error. Diaz then doubled Cal Poly's lead with a sacrifice fly. The pair combined once more in the fifth for a 3-0 lead with Diaz following a one-out triple by Clements with a run-scoring double.
Handed the lead before throwing a pitch, Ramuno (3-4) faced the minimum number of CSUN batters through four innings. Matadors right fielder Kaylee Escutia reached to lead off the bottom half of the fifth after her bunt attempt was mishandled by Cal Poly third baseman Mylina Garza. Center fielder Lulu Sanchez followed with a home run as CSUN's first hit of the afternoon cut the deficit to 3-2.
Ramuno, however, allowed just one more hit in the sixth and, with two Matadors on and one down in the seventh, she struck out designated player Moani Ioane and forced a game-ending flyout from pinch hitter Kylie Galindo to help seal Cal Poly's win.
During Saturday's second 3-2 victory, Cal Poly stranded two baserunners through the initial two innings before breaking onto the scoreboard in the third. With the Mustangs having loaded the bases and one down, a grounder from senior second baseman Kenny Litana was mishandled by Matadors third baseman Shaylan Whatman – a miscue that brought home both Diaz and senior right fielder Juju Sargent.
In the circle, junior righthander Paige Maier stranded six Matadors baserunners through the initial four innings while conceding just a hit. CSUN, however, equalized in the fifth with left fielder Mikayla Carman following a one-out Whatman double with a run-scoring triple. Junior righthander Kate Judy then took over for Maier in the circle before unleashing a wild pitch that plated Carman for a 2-2 scoreline.
Judy, who improved to 4-4, recovered to strand one CSUN baserunner in the sixth and keep the matchup tied. The Mustangs then surged ahead in the top of the seventh with Diaz singling to lead off before reaching second through a Sargent sacrifice bunt. Blanchard then singled to right center to plate Diaz for another 3-2 finale.
Retiring the final two CSUN batters in the bottom of the seventh, Ramuno earned the save. Diaz, meanwhile, finished 4-for-4 in game No. 2.
Cal Poly looks for the series sweep – its first to begin a Big West campaign since 2013 – when concluding play at CSUN with a 1 p.m. single matchup on Sunday, March 17 on ESPN+.
During Saturday's opening 3-2 victory, Cal Poly (12-9, 2-0) assumed the matchup's only lead during the top of the first inning after Blanchard doubled home Diaz with two down.
Two innings later, junior center fielder Jessica Clements – the Big West's leading hitter with a .514 mark – produced a leadoff single before reaching third through a CSUN error. Diaz then doubled Cal Poly's lead with a sacrifice fly. The pair combined once more in the fifth for a 3-0 lead with Diaz following a one-out triple by Clements with a run-scoring double.
Handed the lead before throwing a pitch, Ramuno (3-4) faced the minimum number of CSUN batters through four innings. Matadors right fielder Kaylee Escutia reached to lead off the bottom half of the fifth after her bunt attempt was mishandled by Cal Poly third baseman Mylina Garza. Center fielder Lulu Sanchez followed with a home run as CSUN's first hit of the afternoon cut the deficit to 3-2.
Ramuno, however, allowed just one more hit in the sixth and, with two Matadors on and one down in the seventh, she struck out designated player Moani Ioane and forced a game-ending flyout from pinch hitter Kylie Galindo to help seal Cal Poly's win.
During Saturday's second 3-2 victory, Cal Poly stranded two baserunners through the initial two innings before breaking onto the scoreboard in the third. With the Mustangs having loaded the bases and one down, a grounder from senior second baseman Kenny Litana was mishandled by Matadors third baseman Shaylan Whatman – a miscue that brought home both Diaz and senior right fielder Juju Sargent.
In the circle, junior righthander Paige Maier stranded six Matadors baserunners through the initial four innings while conceding just a hit. CSUN, however, equalized in the fifth with left fielder Mikayla Carman following a one-out Whatman double with a run-scoring triple. Junior righthander Kate Judy then took over for Maier in the circle before unleashing a wild pitch that plated Carman for a 2-2 scoreline.
Judy, who improved to 4-4, recovered to strand one CSUN baserunner in the sixth and keep the matchup tied. The Mustangs then surged ahead in the top of the seventh with Diaz singling to lead off before reaching second through a Sargent sacrifice bunt. Blanchard then singled to right center to plate Diaz for another 3-2 finale.
Retiring the final two CSUN batters in the bottom of the seventh, Ramuno earned the save. Diaz, meanwhile, finished 4-for-4 in game No. 2.
Cal Poly looks for the series sweep – its first to begin a Big West campaign since 2013 – when concluding play at CSUN with a 1 p.m. single matchup on Sunday, March 17 on ESPN+.
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