May 5, 2007
Box Score - Game One
Box Score - Game Two
FULLERTON, CA - The Cal Poly softball team slugged four home runs on the afternoon and got solid pitching performances from Robyn Kontra and Jenna Maiden to sweep a doubleheader from host Cal State Fullerton by the scores of 3-2 and 8-3 on Saturday afternoon in a battle between Big West Conference co-leaders at Anderson Family Field.
The losses drop the Titans to 30-20 overall and 9-5 in the Big West, now two games behind the Mustangs, who improved to 36-14, 11-3 in league play. Pacific, who entered the weekend in third place, split a doubleheader with Cal State Northridge on Saturday, moving the Tigers into a tie for second with Fullerton.
The two teams conclude their three-game series on Sunday afternoon (May 6) at 12 p.m. at Anderson Family Field. Cal State Fullerton's four seniors will be honored in a pre-game ceremony beginning approximately 15 minutes before first pitch.
GAME 1: Cal Poly 3, Cal State Fullerton 2
Cal Poly's Sarah Iwata slugged two home runs, her sixth and seventh of the season, including the game-winner with one out in the top of the seventh to help lift the Mustangs to a 3-2 victory.
Iwata, who led off the second inning with a home run to give Cal Poly the 1-0 lead, took a 1-1 pitch from losing pitcher Candice Baker (17-11) over the fence in center field in the seventh to give the Mustangs the lead.
Kontra (11-5) then stranded the tying run in scoring position in Fullerton's half of the inning after Ashley Van Boxmeer led off with a single and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Lauren Lupinetti.
Kontra, who allowed two runs on seven hits while walking six and striking out four, then got a pop up and a fly ball to end the game.
The Titans answered Iwata's first home run of the game with a run of their own in the second inning as Baker's two-out single back up the middle plated Kiki Munoz to tie the game at 1-1.
Fullerton took its first lead with a single run in the third as Van Boxmeer drew a walk, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. After a walk to Munoz, Katie Gollhardt sliced a double into the left field corner on a 2-2 pitch from Kontra, scoring Van Boxmeer to make it 2-1.
Cal Poly used the long ball to draw even again in the fourth as Melissa Pura led off the inning by taking the first pitch she saw over the fence in left centerfield to make it 2-2.
Baker struck out seven without a walk in the complete-game effort, allowing three runs on five hits. Van Boxmeer and Gollhardt each had two hits to lead the Titans' offense.
Cal State Fullerton left 10 runners on base for the game - seven of those in scoring position.
GAME 2: Cal Poly 8, Cal State Fullerton 3
Krysten Cary had a bases-loaded, bases-clearing triple to key a six-run second inning for Cal Poly while Pura added her second home run of the day in the sixth to help lift the Mustangs to the series victory with an 8-3 win in the nightcap.
Five of the six runs in the second were unearned for Fullerton starter Brooke Weekley (8-4) as the Mustangs took advantage of an early throwing error for the Titans.
Kelly Comstock got Cal Poly on the board with a bases-loaded, two-run single back up the middle to make it 2-0 while Stephanie Tam added a sacrifice fly two batters later to make it 3-0 in favor of the Mustangs.
After a single to left by Pura to reload the bases, Cary then stepped to the plate and looped a 1-0 pitch into the right field corner, clearing the bases to make it 6-0.
Fullerton inched closer in the fourth as Kiki Munoz (two-run) and Katie Gollhardt (solo) slugged back-to-back home runs to bring the Titans to within three runs at 6-3, but Pura's ninth home run of the year with Lisa Modglin on base ahead of her put the game out of reach.
Weekley, who had won five straight starts entering the weekend, allowing three earned on nine hits, walking three and striking out four in the loss.
Maiden (12-3) allowed three runs on seven hits, walking two and striking out four in the complete-game victory.
Van Boxmeer and Munoz each had two hits to pace Fullerton's offense.
Baker was forced to leave the game for the Titans in the second inning of game two after being hit in the face trying to field a ball.