Softball
Game 1: No. 22 Cal Poly 6, CSUN 5 (9)
Game 2: No. 22 Cal Poly 2, CSUN 1
Game 3: No. 22 Cal Poly 8, CSUN 5
Cal Poly completed a crucial sweep of Cal State Northridge to maintain a share of first place in the Big West Conference over the weekend in Northridge.
The Mustangs (31-9, 10-2) won a pair of one-run games on Saturday including the nine-inning victory in the series opener.
A single by Mustangs senior second baseman Stephanie Tam scored freshman outfielder Nora Sobczak to provide the winning run.
Sophomore pitcher Anna Cahn (20-5) pitched another complete game for Cal Poly despite having to throw in another extra-inning affair.
Junior hurler Helen Pena was dominant in Saturday’s late game allowing just one run in collecting her 10th win of the season.
Tam would score the winning run on a single by senior shortstop Melissa Pura.
Cahn would pick up her 20th win of the year and second of the weekend in completing the sweep over the Matadors (24-17, 4-8) on Sunday.
The Mustangs would score seven runs in the first three innings en route to the easy victory. Cahn was able to help her own cause with the bat, connecting on the game’s big hit, a three-run homer in the third inning.
Cal Poly will continue their conference road swing as they travel to play UC Davis in a three-game series starting Saturday.
Football
If the spring scrimmage is any indication, the Mustangs will return to their defensive ways when the football team returns to the field this fall.
The defense dominated the Cal Poly offense on Saturday allowing just one score.
“Our defense is definitely getting the attitude and effort we want to play with,” Mustangs head coach Tim Walsh said in a statement. “I really love the way we were playing on defense today.”
Senior fullback Jon Hall is the only returning skill player to return from Cal Poly’s 8-3 team but his backup scored the only points for the offense as junior Jordan Yocum scored on a 14-yard run.
“Yocum is the real deal,” Walsh said. “We’re finding out where we are at fullback.”
Senior cornerback Xavier Gardner intercepted a pass for the defense, which also recorded numerous sacks.
The Mustangs will have three more spring practices culminating in the 2009 Spring Game at 5 p.m. Saturday in Alex G. Spanos Stadium.
Men’s tennis
UC Irvine 4, Cal Poly 2
The Cal Poly men’s tennis season came to an end on Saturday in Indian Wells in the Big West Conference Semifinals.
The Anteaters claimed the doubles point and won three singles matches to claim the dual and advance to the finals.
Cal Poly sophomore Drew Jacobs ended a strong season with a 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 win over UC Irvine freshman Steven Henderson at the top singles position.
The Mustangs were without freshman Andre Dome who typically played at No. 1 but missed the final five duals of the year with an injury.
Cal Poly achieved its first ever ITA Division I ranking earlier this year when they were ranked No. 74 on March 24. The season-ending loss also meant the end of four Cal Poly careers as seniors Darryn Young, Andrew Gerst, Nick Berger and injured senior Robert Zacks participated in their final matches.
Women’s tennis
UCSB 4, Cal Poly 3
The two teams battled to the end of the Big West Conference Quarterfinal matchup with it all coming down to a third set at No. 3 singles to decide the winner.
UC Santa Barbara freshman Sofia Novak was able to defeat Mustangs senior Whitney Peterson 6-3 in the final set to earn the victory for the Gauchos.
“Santa Barbara came out really strong in doubles. I thought they were more aggressive than us and we may have been a little bit tight,” Cal Poly head coach Hugh Bream said in a statement.
“It was a little unfortunate for us that Santa Barbara didn’t get the four-seed after the tiebreaker so we could’ve avoided them in the opening round. I give credit to their team. They really fought hard and came up with a big win.”
Junior Brittany Blalock will he hoping for a selection to the NCAA singles championship while junior Suzie Matzenauer and sophomore Amy Markhoff are hoping to be invited to the NCAA’s as a doubles team. The field will be announced on April 29.