Seniors Krysten Cary, Helen Pena and Sara Cryza ended their Cal Poly tenure’s with a series win against Pacific, but the cheers from a season-closing win may be tainted by a sense of disappointment for the Mustangs. After holding first place in the Big West for the majority of its conference schedule, Cal Poly lost two key series at the end of the season to send them tail spinning from their No.1 spot.
Cal Poly was eliminated from playoff contention with failing to grab a win against the Aggies last weekend, and the weekend before that the Mustangs lost two of three to Cal State Northridge — all coming after Cal Poly compiled eight wins in nine games.
This weekend, with all postseason scenarios out the window, the Mustangs got back to just playing softball in the final series of the season.
Saturday, the Mustangs won 12-2 on Saturday at Bill Simoni Field in Stockton after splitting their double header Friday night.
The Mustangs opened the scoring spree with Shea Williams continuing her hot streak at the plate. She hit her third home run in two days, this time a three-run shot to right field in the third inning. Along with Williams, junior Anna Cahn helped her own cause by nailing a two-run home run to right in part of a three-run fifth inning to put the Mustangs up 6-0.
Pacific scored single runs in both the fifth and sixth innings, but Cal Poly erupted with six more runs in the top of the seventh to put the game away.
Cahn, who allowed five hits and one run over five innings, picked up her 13th win of the season (13-13). Helen Pena finished up the final two innings allowing one run and five hits.
Nikki Armagost (13-12) took the loss for the Tigers one day after allowing just two runs and three hits in the win on Saturday. In the loss she was tagged for six hits and six runs over 4 1/3 innings. Shaina Brock entered in relief and did no better, allowing five hits and six runs over the final 2 2/3 innings.
On Friday, the Mustangs won the opening game of their double header 12-3, but fell in the second 8-2.
The Mustangs flexed their muscles at the plater in the opener, pounding 17 hits en-route to the win while Anna Cahn (12-13) allowed seven hits and three runs for Cal Poly. Offensively, Shea Williams hit two home runs and three RBIs. Cary added a three-run shot while right fielder Dana Perez had four hits and scored four runs.
Shaina Brock took the loss for the Tigers, falling to 7-10.
In the second game, the Mustangs opened the game with a pair of runs in the first, but Pacific answered back with two of its own.
With the score tied 3-3 entering the top of the fourth, Pacific pieced together nine runs over the final four innings with four coming in the seventh.
Nikki Armagost (13-11) shut down the Mustangs the rest of the way, allowing two hits the rest of the way. For the game she allowed two runs on three hits while striking out four.
Rebecca Patton (8-7) took the loss for the Mustangs allowing seven runs and 10 hits over three 2/3 innings. Pena took over and allowed one run and four hits over the final two and 1/3 innings.
The Mustangs finish the season (23-24, 12-9), third in the Big West.