The Cal Poly softball program held the initial lead on Sunday morning versus Iowa State, but the Cyclones hit three home runs as the Mustangs closed their ShareSLO Mustang Classic tournament with an 8-2 loss at Bob Janssen Field.
Cal Poly starting junior righthander Steffi Best retired the Cyclones in order during the top of the first and the Mustangs took a 1-0 lead in the bottom half of the inning as a groundout from junior first baseman Hailey Martin brought home senior third baseman Noa Yakir.
Iowa State, however, required just a half inning to take possession of the lead as Cyclones third baseman Logan Schaben hit a three-run homer over the center field wall in the top of the second. Iowa State then increased its lead to 4-1 in the third with catcher Kaylee Bosworth singling home shortstop Sami Williams.
The Mustangs trimmed their deficit in half during the bottom of the third as Yakir followed senior second baseman Alyssa McKiernan’s leadoff single with a run-scoring double.
The Cyclones, however, took the run back during the top half of the fourth as Schaben sailed her second homer of the morning over the left field wall.
Iowa State then built on its 5-2 lead in the sixth through a leadoff homer from center fielder Taylor Nearad before left fielder Hannah Carter sliced a one-out RBI single down the left field line to bring home Schaben.
Two Mustang errors in the top of the seventh led to Iowa State’s final run.
Cal Poly returns to action at the March 15-17 CSUN/LMU Tournament. Cal Poly opens play on Friday, March 15 at Loyola Marymount versus the host Lions (8 a.m.) and Illinois (12:15 p.m.).
-Provided by Cal Poly
