The Cal Poly softball team began its regular season with five games in three days, at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz., Feb. 10 to 12. Competing against nationally-ranked schools such as Arizona State and Georgia Tech, the Mustangs (1-4) won just one game at in the tournament — a 3-0 victory over Texas Tech.
The Cal Poly coaching staff named sophomore shortstop Kim Westlund “Player of the Weekend” for her team-high five hits and five RBIs, including a three-run home run against San Jose State. According to Westlund, the team is still finding its feet, adjusting to lineup changes and new teammates.
“We just need to focus more on scoring runs,” she said. “We understand that we’re going to give up runs, so we need to be able to produce when we have runners in scoring position.”
The Mustangs travel to Cathedral City, Calif., this weekend for another elite tournament, in which they play Cal and Oregon — nationally ranked third and 19th, respectively. In 10 games against nationally-ranked opponents last season, the Mustangs lost all 10, finishing 11-36 overall; 7-14 in Big West play.
Cal Poly lost to two ranked schools so far this season: No. 4 Arizona State and No. 20 Georgia Tech, and the team is scheduled to face five more.
Freshman outfielder Emily Ceccacci filled in for the Mustangs at designated hitter in her first college tournament. She tallied a few hits and an RBI in the tournament, and said she feels comfortable depite being a newcomer to the team.
The team was picked to finish sixth in the Big West in a pre-season coaches poll. The team finished 11-36 overall and 7-14 in conference last season and lost ace Anna Cahn and starting catcher Stephanie Correia who produced more than 45 percent of the team’s RBIs last season.
Pitcher Rebecca Patton returns this season and looks to be the Mustang’s go-to starter. She won eight games and lost 20 for Cal Poly last season while compiling a 4.38 ERA, slightly better than Cahn’s.
The Mustangs don’t play at home until March 23 when Lipscomb and Ball State visit San Luis Obispo. The Mustangs will host Big West series against Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Northridge, UC Davis and UC Riverside.