Mustang News Staff Report
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In the final home series of the year, the Cal Poly women’s softball team was swept by Long Beach State after an 8-3 loss on Sunday.
The defeat followed up two losses on Saturday, where the Mustangs lost 2-1 in the first game and 7-4 in the second to round out the doubleheader.
Sophomore pitcher Sierra Hyland again got the starting nod for Cal Poly. Hyland has appeared in 44 of Cal Poly’s 52 games, going 17-20 with a 2.37 ERA.
Hyland struggled against a 49ers side that seemed to have her pitches dialed in. Long Beach State tallied seven earned runs off six hits in four innings against the Cal Poly starter, including two home runs.
Freshman Stephanie Heyward, normally the Mustangs’ third baseman, relieved Hyland on the mound and closed out the final three innings. Heyward allowed one run on five hits and struck out one batter.
The Mustangs showed glimpses of offense, nailing two solo home runs in back-to-back innings off the bats of Hyland and junior designated hitter Betsy Colburn.
Cal Poly’s third run was scored by sophomore Shawna McDonough — pinch running for junior first baseman Breana West — who was plated by a double to the gap off the bat of senior Emily Ceccacci.
Ceccacci, the Mustangs’ lone senior, went 1-for-4 on the day, maintaining her .259 batting average in the leadoff spot.
Ceccacci has had a solid senior campaign, but her junior year was her standout season. She batted .359 that year, the ninth-best average in the Big West and the 10th best all time in Cal Poly history.
Cal Poly concludes its season next weekend at UC Riverside. Friday features a doubleheader with games starting at noon and 2 p.m., while the final game of the year is Saturday at noon.