Brennan AngelBy all indications, 2007 is shaping up to be the best season in the history of the Cal Poly softball program.
The Mustangs opened Big West Conference play with a three-game series sweep at UC Riverside last weekend and have won 15 of their last 18 games overall.
Cal Poly (27-9) is yet to crack either of the two Division I polls, but has three wins over ranked teams and appears headed toward the NCAA Tournament after being controversially left out in 1997, 2005 and 2006.
At the forefront of the Mustangs’ success has been senior center fielder Lisa Modglin, who is rewriting Cal Poly’s record books left and right. Over spring break, she set the school’s all-time record for hits in a career and broke her own single-season records for runs scored and RBI.
“I was really excited for that,” Modglin said of the career hits record. “When I was a freshman, a senior (Roni Sparrey) on our team broke it. I think it meant more to break her record.”
Modglin leads the Big West in nearly every significant offensive category. She is batting .517 with 15 home runs and 39 RBI, has 11 doubles, four triples, scored 41 runs, drawn 12 walks, stolen nine bases and boasts a 1.069 slugging percentage.
And she has done all that in the leadoff role.
“I really like hitting leadoff,” Modglin said. “I’ve pretty much always hit leadoff. I feel comfortable there. I like to have the role of getting things started.”
Also starring offensively for Cal Poly are Jackie Gehrke-Jones (.374), Melissa Pura (.359, six homers, 27 RBI), Krysten Cary (.323, 20 RBI), Cristen Lee (.311) and Sarah Iwata (23 RBI).
But as impressive as the Mustangs have been at the plate, they are just as formidable in the circle.
That’s where the quartet of starting pitchers – Robyn Kontra (7-2), Helen Pe¤a (5-4), Jenna Maiden (8-3) and Emily Hively (7-0) – have combined for 20 complete games, eight shutouts and a 1.79 ERA.
“We’re really tough to beat,” Modglin said of the Mustangs’ Fantastic Four. “Our pitching is probably one of our strongest areas. They complement each other really well. We’re fortunate to have all four of them.”
The Mustangs overcame a 25-game, 31-day road trip after playing their opening five games at home.
“It brought our team together,” Modglin said of the road trip. “It brings you closer.”
Cal Poly next hosts a doubleheader against Big West foe Long Beach State beginning at noon Friday.
Here is a look at how other spring sports teams are faring:
Baseball
The Mustangs were swept by both 15th-ranked Rice and No. 2 Oregon State, but rebounded with a Big West-opening sweep of Pacific last weekend in which they erupted for 40 runs in the three-game series.
Cal Poly (16-16) has been paced all season by Grant Desme, who was named Monday the Big West Player of the Week. The junior right fielder leads the Mustangs in average (.393), home runs (11), RBI (41), runs (35), hits (48), walks (20), total bases (93), stolen bases (5), slugging percentage (.762) and on-base percentage (.479).
At a clip of .355, Brent Morel is the only other starter batting higher than .300, but five Mustang regulars are between .270 and .300.
Cal Poly’s pitching staff – which has a combined 4.85 ERA – has been in limbo all season because of youth and injuries, but one player who has emerged is sophomore right-hander Thomas Eager (5-2, 2.51 ERA).
The Mustangs begin a three-game home series against Big West opponent Cal State Northridge at 6 p.m. Thursday.
Track and Field
Sharon Day and Cassie Atkinson finished third in respective events at the Trojan Invitational hosted by USC on March 24.
Day was third in the high jump with a mark of 5 feet, 10.75 inches and Atkinson third in the 800-meter run in 2 minutes, 11.89 seconds.
Other top-five finishers for the Mustangs were Julie Dufresne placing fourth in the shot put (45-5.5) and fifth in the discus (146-7.5), Jenna Homes fifth in the pole vault (12-0), Lauren Moore fifth in the triple jump (36-11.5), James Nunno fifth in the pole vault (15-7) and Daniel Poyner fifth in the javelin (189-11.5).
Men’s Golf
Cal Poly won the 18-team Mustang Intercollegiate at Cypress Ridge Golf Course in Arroyo Grande last weekend.
The Mustangs were led by Geoff Gonzalez, who finished fourth. He carded rounds of 71, 69 and 74 at the par-72 course for a 214 total at the two-day event.
Gonzalez was followed by teammates Brycen Wagner (tied for sixth at 216), Dave Lewinski (tied for 15th at 221), Michael O’Brien (tied for 28th at 225) and Colin Peck (tied for 42nd at 227).
The Mustangs begin the final day of the UC Santa Barbara Invitational at Alisal River Course in Solvang at 8 a.m. today.
Women’s Golf
The Mustangs finished 12th among 15 teams at UC Irvine’s Anteater Invitational at Dove Canyon Country Club in Irvine on March 27.
Cal Poly’s lone top-20 finisher individually was Stephanie Yocum, who finished tied for 19th after shooting rounds of 75, 80 and 85 at the par-71 course.
The Mustangs are next at Cal State Northridge’s Matador Spring Invitational at Los Angeles National Golf Course at 8 a.m. Monday.
Women’s Tennis
Cal Poly (6-9) evened its Big West record at 3-3 with a 6-1 win at Pacific last Wednesday.
The Mustangs have been led much of the season by their top two singles players, No. 1 senior Carol Erickson (11-14) and No. 2 freshman Brittany Blalock (18-11).
Cal Poly visits Cal State Northridge at 1:30 p.m. today.
Men’s Tennis
The Mustangs have been up and down most of the season and are coming off a 4-3 loss to Division II UC Santa Cruz to wrap up the Red Lion Spring Break Tournament hosted by Boise State last weekend.
Cal Poly (7-10) finished 10th among 16 teams at the tournament.
In doubles, the Mustangs’ Kyle Roybal and Matt Baca have a 16-8 record. Robert Foy and Darryn Young are 12-8.
The Mustangs visit Pepperdine at 2 p.m. Wednesday.