The Cal Poly softball program scored Saturday’s opening run against Loyola Marymount, but the Lions responded with four runs in the second and six more in the third to put the decision into run-rule territory as the Mustangs closed action at the Cal State Fullerton-hosted Judi Garman Classic with a 13-3, five-inning loss.
After Cal Poly senior starting righthander Steffi Best (3-5) kept Loyola Marymount scoreless in the top of the first, the Mustangs (10-8) took a 1-0 lead during the bottom half as sophomore catcher Lily Amos drove home freshman right fielder Sydney Frankenberger with a two-out single.
Loyola Marymount (11-7), however, returned with its four-run effort in the top of the second marked by two Mustang errors and a two-run double from catcher Molly Grumbo.
Cal Poly senior first baseman Hailey Martin led off the bottom half of the second with a double before scoring two pitches later following an RBI base hit by sophomore third baseman Maddie Amos.
The Lions though produced their six-run third inning on just five hits as Loyola Marymount ran the lead to 10-2.
Freshman pinch runner Ellie Yamashita notched Cal Poly’s third run on a double-steal attempt in the fourth, but Loyola Marymount tacked on its final three runs in the top half of the fifth to place the scoreline back in run-rule territory.
Cal Poly, which received a team high two hits from Martin, was retired in order during the bottom of the fifth to close the game.
Cal Poly resumes action at the March 6-8 UCLA-Long Beach State Invitational. All of Cal Poly’s five games will be at top-ranked UCLA, beginning on Friday, March 6 versus Boston University at 10 a.m.
-Provided by Cal Poly
