After a 22-game stretch on the road, Cal Poly softball finally opened play at Bob Janssen Field with a three-game series win over UC Riverside.
The only loss of the series came in game one of Saturday’s doubleheader in an extra-innings thriller, as the team suffered a 4-3 loss in 10 innings. Despite the loss, sophomore pitcher Sophia Ramuno matched a career-best 10 strikeouts.
The Mustangs (15-10, 5-1 Big West) would bounce back the next game, securing a 5-4 walk-off win over the Highlanders (8-18, 2-4 Big West).
The team would secure the series win on Sunday with a 1-0 victory behind Ramuno’s continued dominance, as she threw a complete game shutout. She threw 17 innings with 18 strikeouts on the weekend and only allowed three earned runs.
Junior center fielder Jessica Clements stayed hot offensively, tacking on another four hits over the weekend and continuing to hold the highest batting average in the Big West at .511.
With the series win over the Highlanders, the Mustangs are tied for first place in the Big West conference with Cal State Fullerton.
Ramuno shines once again despite extra-inning loss
After the Mustangs tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the fourth inning, it became a pitcher’s duel the rest of the way. With the same score in the bottom of the seventh, the Mustangs looked to walk it off, but couldn’t get it done as the game would head to extra innings.
Neither team would score until the 10th inning.
The eventual game-winning run for the Highlanders came with a two-out double in the top of the 10th, making it 4-3.
With one runner on base in the bottom of the 10th, the Mustangs were unable to cash in, ending the extra-inning thriller in 10 innings.
Although Ramuno gave up three runs in the top of the third, she threw all 10 innings and retired 15 straight Highlanders between the fifth and ninth innings.
Senior designated player Mia Perez led the Mustangs with three hits, adding an RBI as well.
A timely hit was lacking in Saturday’s opening game, as the team stranded 12 total baserunners. They also had the winning run thrown out at home twice.
Despite jumping ahead early, Cal Poly ties the series with a walk-off win
The second game of the doubleheader went a different direction for the Mustangs, as they jumped out to a 4-0 lead by the second inning.
In the bottom of the first, Perez singled into left center, scoring Clements and senior shortstop Xiara Diaz. With an early lead, the Mustangs scored again in the bottom of the second with some firepower from their star hitter.
With junior first baseman Malia Mah on base, Clements smacked her second home run of the season over the right field wall to make it a 4-0 game.
The Mustang bats went quiet for the next four innings, and the Highlanders would do enough by the top of the seventh to stick around. In the third inning, junior starting pitcher Paige Maier gave up the first Highlander run. She would allow one more in the fifth inning, cutting the Mustang lead in half.
Junior reliever Kate Judy took over for Maier in the top of the sixth. In the top of the seventh, Judy found herself one out away from the win, but the Highlanders punched in a two-run single to tie the game at four runs apiece.
In the final half inning, the Mustangs would get back-to-back singles from sophomore Kiara Blanchard and junior Juju Sargent. With one out and two runners on, Perez knocked a hit into left field, scoring Sargent for the game-winning run.
Ramuno deals again, Cal Poly edges out Highlanders
Ramuno dominated in the circle once again on Sunday, improving her record to 5-5. She went seven innings with eight strikeouts, allowing no runs and just four hits.
In the fifth, the Highlanders threatened as they loaded the bases with two outs. Ramuno would get the next batter to pop up, keeping the game scoreless.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Mustang bats came through to give them a 1-0 lead.
With one out and needing a run for their star pitcher, Clements singled up the middle for her second hit of the day. With Diaz at the plate, Clements stole second, putting herself in scoring position. Diaz came through, smacking a base hit up the middle and scoring Clements to make it a 1-0 game.
There would be no need for the bottom of the seventh, as Ramuno retired all three Highlanders to close the series with a 1-0 win.
The Mustangs will finish their six-game homestand as they take on UC Santa Barbara on March 29 and 30. The series will kick off with a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Friday, March 29 at Bob Janssen Field.