Stephan Teodosescu
steodosescu@mustangdaily.net
The Cal Poly softball team dropped the rubber-match of its series against the Pacific Tigers 3-1 on Sunday. Kim Westlund homered for the Mustangs’ lone run.
Doubleheader
When it comes to doubleheaders, redshirt sophomore pitcher Chloe Wurst says she has “instant amnesia.” It’s not a medical condition, just a mental mechanism to help her bounce back from a poor performance.
With that, Wurst and the Cal Poly softball team forgot all about its 7-0 loss in the first game of Saturday’s double-dip at Bob Janssen Field against Pacific and stormed past the Tigers in the second game 3-0 thanks to Wurst’s complete-game shutout.
“You just get that fire in your belly once you get the crap kicked out of you,” Wurst said. “You’ve got to come and punch back.”
Wurst started both games, but was pulled after 40 pitches in the first matchup, allowing four runs on five hits in 2 1/3 innings of work. She rallied with a five-hit shutout in the second game to help the Mustangs (16-21-1, 5-3 Big West) pull within one game of the second-place Tigers (21-18, 6-2) in the Big West standings.
“It’s always nice to get a shutout,” head coach Jenny Condon said. “We executed and Chloe threw really well and our defense made some great plays. Offensively, we were more aggressive and swung at more pitches … When we put the ball in play, we forced them to make a great play or they threw the ball away.”
The Mustangs gave up 13 hits using three different pitchers in the first game, but put that performance out of their minds in the second. They were focused on bouncing back immediately after the opening game’s final out had been recorded.
“There’s no better feeling than coming back and winning,” Wurst said. “Especially against a disciplined team like (Pacific).”
Speaking of comebacks, Wurst might know a thing or two about them, even ones that do involve medical conditions.
Before her freshman campaign, Wurst didn’t even know if she’d ever be able to play softball again after discovering the presence of a pulmonary embolism in her lungs.
But after getting medically cleared to play and posting a 5-15 record a year ago as a freshman, Wurst has re-emerged in the circle this season to be a major factor in the Mustangs’ recent success.
She has tossed three complete-game shutouts in her past four games, including two against Cal State Fullerton last weekend, which helped the left-hander earn Big West Conference Pitcher of the Week accolades. She ranks fourth among conference pitchers in ERA and innings pitched and owns wins against two ranked teams this season (No. 18 Washington and No. 13 Georgia).
She credits her “Mustang family” for the rejuvenation.
“The whole team, wonderful coaching and great teammates,” Wurst said. “Everybody’s been supportive. My family is always there, 100 percent.”
Behind Wurst on Saturday, the Mustangs used a clutch 2-for-4 performance from junior third baseman Jillian Andersen, who is in the middle of a breakout year. She entered the series leading the team with a .320 batting average.
She pushed across two runs off two singles Saturday, including a shot up the middle that sailed safely over the head of Tigers pitcher Dani Bonnet and into the outfield in the second inning.
“I was looking for something good to hit,” Andersen said. “I saw the first pitch and I just went for it. I’m just looking to attack up there.”
Junior shortstop Kim Westlund added the Mustangs’ other run, smacking a single up the middle to score junior second baseman Ashley Romano from second in the first inning.
Cal Poly used Wurst’s strong starting performance and used timely hitting to sink Pacific, according to Condon. The Mustangs have now won six of their past eight.
“The second game is more indicative of how we’ve played all year,” Condon said. “The first game we were sloppy on offense and defense.”
Bonnet pitched the distance for Pacific, allowing three runs off five hits in six innings of play. The Mustangs left 10, including the bases loaded in the fourth inning, when junior catcher Mariah Cochiolo grounded out to third base.