Mustang News Staff Report
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Freshman shortstop Chelsea Convissar smashed two home runs in Sunday’s doubleheader at Cal State Fullerton, but the Mustangs were unable to overcome solid pitching performances by the Titans in both games, losing 4-1 and 6-3 Sunday afternoon at Anderson Family Field.
The Mustangs (22-27, 5-10 Big West Conference) were held to just three hits by Titans starting southpaw Cerissa Rivera (2-1) during the first game of the day, recording just one hit over the first five innings.
Cal Poly starting pitcher Sierra Hyland helped her own cause in the second inning when she recorded a double. The Mustangs’ first hit of the game, however, did not result in any runs as a groundout, strikeout and flyout got the Titans out of the inning unscathed.
After a leadoff home run in the bottom of the fourth, the Titans added onto their lead in the fifth. Third baseman Missy Taukeiaho doubled to right center off of Hyland to score two following two singles.
Down 4-0, the Mustangs could only answer with the first of Convissar’s two home runs on the day, a solo shot that came after senior outfielder Emily Ceccacci grounded into a double play to clear the bases.
Hyland was charged with the loss to fall to an even 17-17. She finished with four earned runs given up on seven hits, no walks and three strikeouts.
The Mustangs stranded six baserunners in the game.
In game number two of the day it was the Titans who again jumped out to an early 1-0 lead thanks to an inning-starting solo home run.
This time, in the bottom of the fourth, it was Melissa Sechrest who homered to right center off of game two starter, freshman righthander Lindsey Chalmers.
Chalmers went 4 2/3 innings, giving up five earned runs on nine hits while walking and striking out no one.
Cal Poly, which stranded six baserunners again in game two, enjoyed its best chance to equalize early in the top of the third when freshman centerfielder Sandoval and Ceccacci each singled before both moving into scoring position.
Titan starting righthander Christina Washington (15-6), however, forced groundouts from Convissar and sophomore right fielder Courtney Tyler to keep Cal Poly scoreless.
After another inning-starting home run by Sechrest put the Titans up 2-0 in the fourth, Cal State Fullerton broke things open in the fifth when they recorded four more runs.
Chalmers was lifted in favor of Hyland in the fifth.
The Mustangs rallied in the top of the seventh starting with a Sandoval solo home run that gave Cal Poly their first run of the game. Then, after a Ceccacci double in the next at-bat, Convissar slapped her second home run of the day to left field to cut the Titans’ lead to 6-3.
The scoring stopped there, however, as the Mustangs dropped their third straight to the Titans and fell to 5-10 in a tie for sixth place in the Big West.
Cal Poly will round off the home portion of its 2015 schedule at Bob Janssen Field May 2-3 when they will host Long Beach State for a three-game set. The series opens with a noon doubleheader on Saturday. Game one will be televised live on ESPNU.