Long Beach State University
Cal Poly
Softball Drops A Pair Against Cal Poly
4/16/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Box Score (Game 1) | Box Score (Game 2) | Photo Gallery 
Long Beach, Calif. -
Long Beach State took a hard-luck 1-0 loss in the first game of a doubleheader with Cal Poly, and the Mustangs rode the momentum for a 4-1 win to take both halves of the DH at the LBSU Softball complex on Saturday.
Long Beach State (24-15, 4-4 Big West) threatened early in the first inning against the Mustangs in the opening game. Two singles to open the game put two runners on, and after a sacrifice, Cal Poly (18-17, 2-6 Big West) opted to intentionally walk Darian Tautalafua, which ended up being the right move. Two outs later, Long Beach State's best chance of the day was gone as the Mustangs escaped the threat.
Christina Clermont retired the first nine batters, but gave up the only run of the day in the fourth inning courtesy of an error. After a leadoff single from Stephanie Heyward, a chopper was misplayed by Tautalafua at third base, putting two runners on, and while Clermont picked up the first two outs, a pair of walks would bring home the only run of the game.
Lindsey Chalmers finished off the complete game shutout for the Mustangs, allowing just two hits after the first inning and holding Long Beach State scoreless for just the fourth time this season.
In the second game, Cal Poly pushed across a pair of runs in the third inning. Heyward got the action started with a leadoff double, and two more doubles in the inning, one from Sierra Hyland and one from Breanna West spotted the Mustangs a 2-0 lead.
Long Beach State cut the Cal Poly edge in half with a run in the fourth inning. Lauren MacLeod drew a one-out walk, and then Rachel Loera dropped a perfect bunt that was thrown late and wide of first base, putting runners on the corners. A groundball RBI from Alley Perkins put the Beach on the board making the score 2-1.
Selene Polamalu had thrown three hitless innings of relief to keep the 49ers in striking distance, but ran into trouble in the seventh inning after picking up the first two outs with little trouble. A grounder from Amanda Sandoval struck third base and squibbed away from Tautalafua, and Hyland followed with a single to put two runners on.
A double from West tacked on two more runs for the Mustangs, and a leadoff single from Perkins in the bottom half of the seventh went for naught as Cal Poly held on for the win.
The series concludes with the third and final game Sunday at 1 p.m. at the LBSU Softball Complex.
