The Cal Poly softball team (8-22, 1-2 Big West) fell to Cal State Fullerton 7-0 in the second game of Sunday’s doubleheader after ending their 10-game losing streak earlier in the day. True freshman Jordan Yates went one inning and gave up four runs in the first to Fullerton’s powerful offense. Freshmen Chloe Wurst relieved Yates, pitching the remaining six innings, giving up three earned runs, six hits and striking out two.
“I have to make every pitch have a purpose,” Wurst said. “It’s about commitment, it’s not whether you trust a pitch, it’s whether you can go all out, full speed and trust yourself. You have to battle. It’s a grind out there.”
Yates proved to be much more successful in the first game of the doubleheader as Cal Poly defeated the Titans 4-1. Head coach Jenny Condon was pleased to end the losing streak.
“It was a good momentum builder for us,” Condon said. “This game is all about momentum, both good and bad. Unfortunately, we came out flat in the second game. In the Big West, every team comes out wanting to win. You can’t come out flat and expect the other team to just lay down.”
In the first inning, Titan shortstop Adrianna Martinez drew a six-pitch walk that Nichole Johnson and Eliza Crawford followed with back-to-back singles to drive in Martinez. First basemen Anissa Young then hit a towering three-run home run over the left field wall.
In the second inning, Emily Ceccacci lead off with a solid single to the left that was followed with a Mariah Cochiolo walk. The Mustangs were unable to convert with runners in scoring position as they left nine runners on base during the game.
Despite a rough first inning, the Mustangs bounced back, holding the Titan offense to four innings of scoreless softball. Wurst, mixing fastballs, change-ups and curveballs, retired nine consecutive Titans in that stretch.
The streak of scoreless innings ended in the top of the sixth when Fullerton scored two. Gabby Aragon drove a single over third baseman Kim Westlund. The Titan’s Kirsten Lambertson executed a bunt to move Aragon into scoring position.
This was followed with another bunt by left fielder Leesa Harris. The Mustangs’ first basemen Madi Vogelsang slipped as she charged on the play, allowing Harris to advance to second. Lead off hitter Ashley Carter singled to left driving in Aragon, but Carter was caught in a run-down at second allowing the speedy Harris to score adding another two runs to the Titan lead.
Fullerton scored its final run in the seventh on an RBI groundout by pinch hitter Courtney Snyder, driving in second baseman Jena Rubio.
The Titan’s starting pitcher Desiree Ybarra effectively silenced the Mustangs offense allowing no earned runs, five hits and four strikeouts in her seven innings pitched. Ybarra consistently hit spots and mixed pitches as she held the Mustangs scoreless in game two.
“They did a good job this weekend,” Condon said. “They’re not flashy, they don’t throw high 60s, but they did a good job. They managed the game well enough to get the outs they needed when they needed them.”
Cal Poly softball begins a four-game road trip next week as they face off against fellow Big West member Long Beach State.
“Road trips are a little bit easier for us,” Condon said. “We usually fare pretty well on the road, we are comfortable in that environment; there’s no distractions. All we have to do is go and play ball.”