Jesse Summers
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After failing to score more than two runs in three consecutive losses to open the Mustang Classic, the Cal Poly softball team finished with three wins in a row, capped off by a 2-1 victory against Bryant on Sunday.
Freshman pitcher Lindsey Chalmers gave the Mustangs a near-complete game outing, allowing only one run on eight hits and striking out four.
“My changeup and rise were definitely working today,” Chalmers said.
Chalmers has proved to be a competent No. 2 behind sophomore pitcher Sierra Hyland, going 3-5 and sporting a 4.18 ERA against tough nonconference opponents.
“She was pitching ahead and hitting her spots,” assistant coach Gina Vecchione said. “Even with runners on, she stuck to her overall game plan.”
Bryant took the lead in the top of the third on junior second baseman Liana Ogata’s RBI double to left-center, but Cal Poly would respond well.
Senior left fielder Emily Ceccacci helped Cal Poly tie the game back up in the fifth inning on a sharp line drive to left-center, which scored sophomore catcher Taylor Yzaguirre. Ceccacci went 2-for-3 and made several tough plays look easy.
“I saw her well in my first at-bat, so after that I just had to make some adjustments and not over-think it,” Ceccacci said.
Cal Poly did not score more than two runs per game throughout all six weekend contests, so pitching and defense were key in helping the Mustangs capture their final three tournament games.
“The grind of six games isn’t so much a grind for these girls because they love to play the game,” Vecchione said. “This is what we prepare for all fall, so to them, as a team, this was fun. It’s exciting that they just want to get out there and play.”
“We started the tournament off a little rocky, but it was good to finish it off with a few wins, and it was especially good to get them at home,” Ceccacci said.
The Mustangs are now 11-14 on the season, and after having squeezed many multigame weekends in this early in the season, the key thus far has been preparation and repetition.
“They’ve done a great job at taking care of the little things off the field to get ready for games,” Vecchione said. “They eat well, sleep a lot and come prepared to work hard every day. It’s all about the process, and the most important thing for us to continue to do is compete.”
Cal Poly (11-14) will continue its weekend tournament trend and head to Fresno for the Fresno Classic this coming weekend. Its first game is against South Dakota State at 3:45 p.m. on Friday.