Senior catcher Makenna Young hit two home runs and freshman designated player Kianah Corey’s walk-off two-run homer provided the difference as the Cal Poly softball program opened Saturday action at its own ShareSLO Mustang Classic tournament with an 8-6 victory versus Utah State. Cal Poly, however, dropped the second half of the doubleheader to Iowa State, 6-3.
During Saturday’s opening matchup versus Utah State (8-11), the Aggies grabbed the game’s opening lead in the top of the first as a throwing error from Mustang starting righthander Dakota Casper led to a five-run inning that included a two-run double from first baseman Bailee Trapp and a two-run homer from second baseman Kenzie Bolin.
Utah State then increased the lead to 6-0 in the third inning.
Aggies starting righthander Delaney Hull retired the first seven Cal Poly hitters she faced and kept the Mustangs to just one hit through the opening three innings. Young, however, homered to lead off Cal Poly’s half of the fourth. The Mustangs then added three more runs in the fifth after sophomore center fielder Noellah Ramos produced a two-out, two-run double ahead of Young’s run-scoring hit.
After taking over for Casper with two down in the first, Mustang freshman lefthanded reliever Krystyna Allman (2-5) limited Utah State to four hits during the final six and one-third innings.
Cal Poly, however, still faced a 6-4 deficit heading into the bottom of the seventh inning. Ramos led off with a single and, three pitches later, Young swatted her second homer of the afternoon over the center field fence. Two batters later, junior first baseman Hailey Martin drew a five-pitch walk to set up Corey, who tucked her second career homer inside the left field foul pole to hand Cal Poly the 8-6 triumph.
During Saturday’s second game against Iowa State (12-9), Cal Poly continued its power hitting as Martin provided the Mustangs a 1-0 lead in the second with a homer to center field.
The Cyclones, however, quickly answered with three runs in the top of the third as first baseman Sally Woolpert cleared the bases with a double.
Cal Poly briefly tied the matchup at 3-3 during the bottom half of the fourth with Martin doubling to score senior right fielder Crimson Kaiser before freshman pinch hitter Lily Amos brought home freshman pinch runner Sarah Wulff with a groundout.
Iowa State though closed the game with single runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh to outdistance Cal Poly.
Cal Poly closes the 2019 ShareSLO Mustang Classic on Sunday, March 10 with a 10 a.m. matchup against Iowa State
-Provided by Cal Poly
