Strong pitching powered the Cal Poly softball team past Long Beach State this weekend. Sophomore pitchers Lindsey Chalmers and Stephanie Heyward did not allow a single earned run during the three-game sweep of the 49ers, helping the Mustangs snap an 11-game losing streak.
Going into the weekend, Cal Poly, ranked last in the Big West Conference, was a heavy underdog against the second-place 49ers.
That prospect didn’t stop the Mustangs.
Cal Poly snuck out a 1-0 victory over Long Beach State in Friday’s series opener when junior second baseman Ashley Torino drew a bases-loaded walk.
After only two hits Friday, the Mustangs’ offense opened up with seven hits in their 4-1 victory. Long Beach State managed only four hits and scored only one unearned run after a throwing error by Cal Poly catcher Makenna Young.
Saturday’s game was much like the other games in the series with another low-scoring affair. Neither team scored in the first five innings, but Cal Poly managed to break through in the sixth inning. Young cracked an RBI single that scored junior left fielder Courtney Tyler.
Chalmers completed the weekend with 14 innings pitched (two complete games) while allowing only nine hits and no earned runs. Heyward, who pitched Saturday’s game, pitched the full seven innings and allowed four hits and no earned runs.
The Mustangs started the season 16-6 before losing their star starting pitcher, junior Sierra Hyland, to injury. The three wins this weekend snapped their 11-game losing streak and marked the Mustangs’ first three conference wins of the season.