Ryan ChartrandScoring 22 runs on its way to three big wins, the Cal Poly softball team dominated this weekend in the first ever Mustang Classic at Bob Janssen Field.
The Mustangs (3-1) defeated both Santa Clara and Sacramento State on Sunday and split a pair of games against 12th-ranked Washington on Friday. Games were rained out Saturday.
After two scoreless innings in the Santa Clara game Sunday, the Mustangs got the cogs turning in the bottom of the third. The bases were loaded with two outs and it was the first real chance to score for Cal Poly. Freshman Krysten Cary was up to bat and sitting on a full count. Then with the pitch came a right-field shot past the second baseman. Sophomore Cristen Lee and senior Kelly Comstock made it home, putting the Mustangs up 2-0.
“That got us fired up and I think that’s what got us going,” Cal Poly sophomore shortstop Melissa Pura said.
Cal Poly head coach Jenny Condon added: “We were strong all the way through our lineup and we came through with some clutch hitting.”
The third frame was not yet over as senior first baseman Shannon Brooks reached first base on a Santa Clara throwing error, sending home teammates Cary and junior Sarah Iwata. With a 4-0 score, the Mustangs kept on rolling as Pura smacked a center-filed home run, earning two RBI and putting Cal Poly up 6-0.
“It was an off-speed fatty pitch down the middle,” Pura said about the home-run pitch. “We played really well and I knew we’d stay ahead. I was very confident that we were going to win.”
With enough insurance runs to keep them safe, the Mustangs kept Santa Clara grounded with three quick outs. At their last at-bat, Cal Poly posted another two runs starting with a left-center single by senior center fielder Lisa Modglin. She rounded the bases for home after freshman outfielder Cristina Brox reached third on the Santa Clara left fielder’s fumble. Brox ended up coming home for the eighth and final run of the game.
“It was great, we played really well all weekend and we kept up our intensity and focus,” Condon said.
The Mustangs dominated earlier Sunday, defeating Sacramento State 4-0. The highlight of the game came in the bottom of the fifth inning when four Mustang singles were followed by a three-run double by Cary.
Friday afternoon marked the start of the tournament, when Cal Poly won the second game against Washington 7-6 after a season-opening 4-3 loss. Modglin homered in each game.
Cal Poly now begins a 25-game road trip that starts against Oklahoma State on Feb. 16. The Mustangs’ next home game is March 24 against St. Mary’s.