The Cal Poly softball team (34-9, 13-2 Big West Conference) continues to climb in the national rankings. They’ve haven’t lost in over a month and are in sole possession of first place in the Big West Conference.
But it’s another accomplishment that they’ve worked toward all season that is on the line this weekend as they host Pacific (17-29, 2-13) starting at noon on Saturday in a three-game conference set.
Cal Poly has not tasted defeat at Bob Janssen Field in over a year and with a sweep of the Tigers, would guarantee themselves their first undefeated home record in program history.
“I don’t think it’s about being perfect at home,” Cal Poly head coach Jenny Condon said. “I think it’s about winning the games wherever we are.”
The Mustangs have won a number of close ballgames at home this season to keep the streak intact. They have won 18 in a row dating back to last year, and all 16 contests this year. Of those 16 games, seven have been one-run wins for Cal Poly.
“We’ve never panicked and our experience has definitely helped us out,” Condon said of finishing close games. “When we’ve struggled in the circle our defense has stepped up.”
Condon said that she couldn’t attribute the clutch play to any specific player but that the whole team seems to come alive when the game is on the line.
“We’ve really had some clutch hitting one-through-nine and we’ve had people come up with the big hits,” she said.
The Mustangs haven’t been defeated since a 5-3 loss at Cal State Fullerton on March 28. Condon acknowledged the accomplishments of the team but said they have more to do.
“It’s been a great year,” Condon said. “A couple years ago when we won the conference was great. But I think this team has the potential to go to Oklahoma City if we keep playing the way we are.”
Senior third baseman Cristen Lee is one of five outgoing seniors playing their last games at Baggett Stadium. She is having a banner year, hitting a career-high .310 and is fourth in the Big West Conference with a team-leading 48 hits.
Lee said she is enjoying the quality of softball the team is playing and is happy the team has come together so well in her final year at Cal Poly.
“It’s been really fun,” Lee said. “I couldn’t ask for a better way to go out as a senior. The team is a family and we’re having a lot of fun. Obviously when you’re winning, it makes everything easier.”
Lee said the team came together early on in its attempt to build upon the program that won the Big West championship just two seasons ago.
“We came together right at the end of last year to figure out what needed to be done,” she said. “Everyone worked hard to fix what little problems we had and approached this year with a different attitude and I think it’s worked.”
Despite the teams’ consistent play, Condon admitted that the home streak while nice, would eventually come to end.
“The trouble with that is it’s eventually going to end. The longer we go the more pressure there is with that so we need to not really worry about the records or the standings.”