The Cal Poly softball team lost a close game to Long Beach State, 3-2, after a solo home run in the ninth inning broke the tie at Bob Janssen Field on April 19.
The result marks the end of a three-game series for Cal Poly. The game was tied through regulation before Long Beach State’s Elissa Guerrero hit a one-out home run in the top of the ninth inning to secure the win.
Cal Poly took an early lead in the second inning when Sienna Erskine singled to left field, bringing home pinch runner Sehren Martinez. Long Beach State responded with two runs in the fourth; Nina Sepulveda delivered an RBI single and later scored on Audree Mendoza’s double. The Mustangs tied it up again as Myleigh Cooper doubled and eventually scored on Mylina Garza’s sacrifice fly.
Pitcher Ally Robbins kept Cal Poly competitive by retiring ten straight batters between the fifth and eighth innings. In extra innings, Leilani Allen and Cooper both reached base for Cal Poly but were left stranded as reliever Kate Barnett ended their scoring threat. Guerrero’s home run off starting pitcher Kaylee Davis put Long Beach State ahead for good.
Cooper led Cal Poly offensively with three hits, raising her batting average to .393. Defensively, A’Niyla Byrd recorded twelve outs from center field.
With two Big West regular season series remaining, Cal Poly will travel to Hawai’i for games scheduled on April 24 and April 25.
