Homers Propel Cal Poly to Friday Split with UC Davis

Friday, May 1

San Luis Obispo, CA

1 p.m.

10-34, 4-21

UC Davis

27-22, 16-9

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
UC Davis	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	3	10	2
Cal Poly	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	2	5	0

Photo by: Chloe Briote-Johnson

Homers Propel Cal Poly to Friday Split with UC Davis

5/1/2026 7:31:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Home runs in successive innings from freshman Madi Bohannon (bottom), sophomore Maya Venegas (middle) and senior Kiara Blanchard (above, right) lifted the Cal Poly softball program to a 12-4, five-inning victory in game No. 2 of Friday’s doubleheader against UC Davis as the Mustangs opened their final series of 2026 with a split. Playing its lengthiest game in seven years during Friday’s opener, Cal Poly fell in 11 innings, 3-2, after UC Davis second baseman Gia Felice broke the extended deadlock.

During Friday’s 12-4, run-rule victory in game No. 2, Cal Poly surged ahead with a five-run second inning highlighted by a two-run Blanchard double and an RBI single from freshman first baseman Myleigh Cooper.

Bohannon then ran Cal Poly’s lead to 7-0 in the third, catapulting her first collegiate home run over the left field wall.

The Aggies cut into Cal Poly’s advantage with four runs in the top of the fourth before a solo shot from Venegas in the bottom half – her second homer of the year – stretched the lead to 8-4.

B5 | Kiara Blanchard! The senior with a three-run homer in her final home series! Mustangs lead UC Davis, 11-5.#RideHigh pic.twitter.com/IL3dzLAVlP
— Cal Poly Softball (@CalPolySoftball) May 2, 2026

Blanchard, completing a career high five-RBI game, hit her three-run homer to right center in the fifth before sophomore second baseman Sienna Erskine cemented the run-rule decision with a bases-loaded single that plated sophomore right fielder Maddy Bermudez.

With Cal Poly establishing a season high for runs, all but one Mustang starter contributed to the 13-hit attack.

During Friday’s opening 3-2 setback – Cal Poly’s longest game since a 4-3, 11-inning loss at CSUN on April 19, 2019 – UC Davis grabbed its first lead in the second with center fielder Keira Brady doubling home shortstop Rylee Reeves.

Offensively, Cal Poly saw its first 12 hitters retired in order by UC Davis starting righthander Ashley Sawai (12-4) before Cooper singled to lead off the bottom half of the fifth. A UC Davis fielding error coupled with a sacrifice bunt from freshman shortstop Leilani Allen shifted both baserunners into scoring position before another Aggies fielding error – this one mishandled by Reeves at shortstop – brought home junior pinch runner Sehren Martinez to tie the matchup, 1-1.

B4 | Maya Venegas puts Cal Poly up 8-4 in game No. 2 with her second homer of the season!#RideHigh pic.twitter.com/lyc8rkFYYE
— Cal Poly Softball (@CalPolySoftball) May 2, 2026

Taking over in the circle with one down in the second, sophomore reliever Bree Brennan conceded just four hits and stranded seven baserunners through the eighth inning. The Aggies, however, crept back in front in the ninth with Felice producing a one-out, RBI single.

Requiring a response, Cal Poly knotted the matchup in the bottom half through junior center fielder A’Niyla Byrd’s two-strike, two-out single up the middle to plate Bermudez.

Into the 11th, Felice prevailed for the Aggies once more, singling into center field to bring home designated player Kaylin Phillips. The Mustangs, meanwhile, were retired in order to close the matchup.

Previously eliminated from contention for the May 6-9 Big West Championship, Cal Poly completes the 2026 season Friday, May 2 with a 1 p.m. matchup against UC Davis.

B3 | Touch 'em all, Madi Bohannon! The freshman with her first collegiate home run to give Cal Poly a 7-0 lead against UC Davis in game No. 2.#RideHigh pic.twitter.com/lOCRfSklEw
— Cal Poly Softball (@CalPolySoftball) May 2, 2026

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