After splitting the first two games of the series, Cal Poly softball (8-33, 4-10 Big West) dropped the series finale against Cal State Northridge on Sunday.
The Mustangs, who have lost 10 of their last 12 games, gave up seven runs in the fifth and sixth innings to lose 7-5. The loss dropped Cal Poly into a tie with Riverside for last place in Big West standings.
Cal Poly was poised to take the series in game three with sophomore pitcher Rebecca Patton giving up just one hit in the first four innings behind an early five run lead.
In the first inning, left fielder Nora Sobczak led off with her first career triple. Patton took a walk to first and Sobczak scored with a sacrifice fly to center field from right fielder Nicole Lund. Then, a single by catcher Stephanie Correia brought in Patton, making the game 2-0.
The Mustangs padded their lead in the third inning with a bases-loaded single from center fielder Whitley Gerhart, followed by an error from Northridge shortstop Karla Chaparro to increase Cal Poly’s lead to four.
In the fourth, it was Cal Poly again to find the long ball, with designated hitter Anna Cahn hitting her Big West-best 12th home run of the year, giving the Mustangs a 5-0 lead.
But the rest of the game belonged to Cal State Northridge.
Cal State Northridge hit three consecutive singles in the fifth, and Patton walked in the Matadors’ first run of the game. With bases loaded and one out, Cal State Northridge cut Cal Poly’s lead to three with a sacrifice fly, making the game 5-2.
In the sixth, Northridge lit up the batter’s box, earning five runs with a two-out rally. After the first two batters flew out to the infield, Northridge designated hitter Jennifer Mosier sparked the comeback with a single up the middle.
After a full count walk to Chaparro, center fielder Kristen Mihm sent the ball into center field, popping out of the glove of Gerhart, and scoring both Chaparro and Mosier.
The Mustangs loaded the bases again for Cal State Northridge after intentionally walking second basemen Jaci Carlsen, and right fielder Samantha Sloniker reached on a fielder’s choice. Catcher Mikayla Thielges capitalized on the opportunity, knocking in three more runs on a double off the left field wall. Patton was taken out of the game, and Cahn came in to close out the inning.
Cal Poly was unable to respond, scattering three hits in the last three innings and finished the game 7-5.
The Mustangs took the first game of the series Saturday behind Patton, who pitched a complete game, giving up only two runs in seven innings.
With the game tied at two, the Mustangs pulled ahead of Cal State Northridge in the seventh inning with two outs.
Patton helped herself out, by starting the rally with a single, and then advanced to second on a single from Lund. Cahn was walked on a full count which loaded the bases for Correia, who singled to center field bringing in Patton and Lund. Cal Poly won the series opener 4-2.
But Cal Poly couldn’t find the same late game heroics in game two. Patton, gave up four runs in four innings and didn’t receive any support from the batting lineup.
The Mustangs scattered four hits in the first six innings before getting on the board with a solo home run by Correia, her third of the season. Despite singles from Romano and Westlund, the Mustangs were unable to score again, as they lost game two 4-1.
The series versus Cal State Northridge marked the fourth consecutive Big West series Cal Poly’s softball team has lost.
Cal Poly has only two Big West opponents left to face.
The team will play one last series on the road versus UC Davis starting with a double header on May 7 before returning home for its last Big West series versus Pacific.