Thursday, February 15
Santa Clara, CA
4 p.m.
4
at
6
Santa Clara
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Softball
C/IF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
Photo by: Owen Main
Mustangs Sustain First Loss of 2024 Thursday at Santa Clara
2/15/2024 7:39:00 PM | Softball
SANTA CLARA – Attempting to match a 29-year-old program mark for the second best record to start a season, the previously undefeated Cal Poly softball program fell for the first time in 2024 on Thursday afternoon, dropping a 6-4 decision at Santa Clara to open the Silicon Valley Classic.
Junior center fielder Jessica Clements finished with a pair of doubles for Cal Poly (5-1), which entered Thursday's matchup off to the program's best start since 2005. Only the 1997 (15-0) and 1995 (6-0) Mustang squads had enjoyed better starts to a season.
Cal Poly took Thursday's initial lead in the top of the first inning as junior catcher Julia Barnett followed a one-out double from Clements with a run-scoring single to left field.
Santa Clara (3-4), however, responded during the bottom half with third baseman Morgan Salmon producing a two-run base hit that brought home left fielder Bailey McLaughlin and second baseman Cairah Curran for a 2-1 lead. Center fielder Hazyl Gray then furthered Santa Clara's advantage to 3-1 with a sacrifice fly that plated Salmon.
With Cal Poly kept to one hit between the second and fourth innings, Santa Clara pushed the lead to 5-1 during the bottom half of the fourth with Curran producing a two-run triple.
The Mustangs grabbed two runs back in the top of the fifth as a two-out throwing error by Broncos starting righthander Hannah Edwards (2-0) brought home senior right fielder Juju Sargent and Clements.
Santa Clara added one more run in the fifth before Cal Poly finalized the scoring during the top half of the sixth as junior designated player Caroline Allman singled home pinch runner Jade Contapay.
In the circle for Cal Poly, junior Kate Judy (2-1) sustained the loss after conceding Santa Clara's initial three runs. Fellow righthander Paige Maier struck out five Broncos in six innings of relief.
Cal Poly continues Silicon Valley Classic play on Friday, Feb. 16 against Seattle (11 a.m.) and San Jose State (4 p.m.). Both matchups will be hosted at Spartan Softball Stadium.
Junior center fielder Jessica Clements finished with a pair of doubles for Cal Poly (5-1), which entered Thursday's matchup off to the program's best start since 2005. Only the 1997 (15-0) and 1995 (6-0) Mustang squads had enjoyed better starts to a season.
Cal Poly took Thursday's initial lead in the top of the first inning as junior catcher Julia Barnett followed a one-out double from Clements with a run-scoring single to left field.
Santa Clara (3-4), however, responded during the bottom half with third baseman Morgan Salmon producing a two-run base hit that brought home left fielder Bailey McLaughlin and second baseman Cairah Curran for a 2-1 lead. Center fielder Hazyl Gray then furthered Santa Clara's advantage to 3-1 with a sacrifice fly that plated Salmon.
With Cal Poly kept to one hit between the second and fourth innings, Santa Clara pushed the lead to 5-1 during the bottom half of the fourth with Curran producing a two-run triple.
The Mustangs grabbed two runs back in the top of the fifth as a two-out throwing error by Broncos starting righthander Hannah Edwards (2-0) brought home senior right fielder Juju Sargent and Clements.
Santa Clara added one more run in the fifth before Cal Poly finalized the scoring during the top half of the sixth as junior designated player Caroline Allman singled home pinch runner Jade Contapay.
In the circle for Cal Poly, junior Kate Judy (2-1) sustained the loss after conceding Santa Clara's initial three runs. Fellow righthander Paige Maier struck out five Broncos in six innings of relief.
Cal Poly continues Silicon Valley Classic play on Friday, Feb. 16 against Seattle (11 a.m.) and San Jose State (4 p.m.). Both matchups will be hosted at Spartan Softball Stadium.
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