BOX SCORES: SAN DIEGO STATE / UCLA
LOS ANGELES – A three-run homer from senior shortstop Melissa Pura not only helped her become the Cal Poly softball program’s career RBI leader, but allowed the Mustangs to avenge an earlier loss suffered to No. 25 San Diego State by downing the Aztecs, 7-3, during the final day of competition at the UCLA-hosted Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament. The Mustangs, however, failed to sweep their Sunday afternoon slate at Easton Stadium, falling to No. 4 ...
LOS ANGELES – A three-run homer from senior shortstop Melissa Pura not only helped her become the Cal Poly softball program’s career RBI leader, but allowed the Mustangs to avenge an earlier loss suffered to No. 25 San Diego State by downing the Aztecs, 7-3, during the final day of competition at the UCLA-hosted Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament. The Mustangs, however, failed to sweep their Sunday afternoon slate at Easton Stadium, falling to No. 4 UCLA during the nightcap, 6-1.
Scoreless into the third inning against San Diego State (2-1), Cal Poly (2-2) led without interruption as senior second baseman Stephanie Tam singled home freshman right fielder Nora Sobczak for a 1-0 advantage. Two batters later, Pura belted her first homer of the season over the center field wall to push her career RBI total to 108 and supplant 2007 NFCA All-America selection Lisa Modglin (105) as Cal Poly’s career leader. Pura’s stroke proved to be the decisive edge for Cal Poly, which fell to the Aztecs on Saturday, 4-3.
The Mustangs collected a run during the fifth as senior Jessica Rogers reached home via a throwing error from Aztec center fielder Brittany Knudsen. San Diego State catcher Erin Floros earned three runs back for the Aztecs with a homer in the sixth, but a two-run double from Mustang junior pinch hitter Sara Kryza during the bottom half of the inning scored Sobczak and freshman Capri Ruiz to cement Cal Poly’s victory.
Sophomore lefthander Anna Cahn improved to 2-0 after striking out five Aztecs against zero walks. Senior third baseman Cristen Lee finished with her second three-hit game in three outings this year.
During the nightcap, UCLA catcher Kaila Shull’s two-RBI double capped a four-run third inning as the Bruins led Cal Poly wire-to-wire. Center fielder Jennifer Schroeder added a solo homer in the fourth and designated player Dani Yudin posted an RBI single in the fifth to complete the Bruin scoring.
Cal Poly, held to three hits by Bruin starter Donna Kerr (1-1), earned a run back in the sixth as Pura doubled through the left side of the infield to plate Tam.
Mustang junior lefthander Helen Peña (0-2) was saddled with the loss after tossing the initial two and one-third innings.
The Mustangs remain idle until opening play at the Oregon State-hosted Cathedral City Classic, scheduled for Feb. 19-22 in Cathedral City, Calif. The Mustangs begin action Friday, Feb. 20 versus No. 10 Oklahoma at 6 p.m.
