After weeks of searching for a conference win and seated at the bottom of the Big West standings, Cal Poly softball found a breakthrough against Cal State Bakersfield.
The Mustangs clinched both opening games on Saturday for their first two conference victories of the season.
Cal Poly (7-28, 2-13 Big West) fell short on Sunday in the final game of the series against the Roadrunners (15-23, 6-9 Big West), but with two victories already in hand, the team emerged with their first series victory of the season.
Prior to the series, the Mustangs held a 0-12 record in the Big West.
Both wins on Saturday ended a prolonged losing streak and gave the Mustangs a long-awaited morale boost against a conference opponent.
“I think we know we can take series now, and it gives us confidence,” senior catcher Julia Barnett said.
Mustangs sweep Roadrunners in Saturday action
Cal Poly had a strong start to the weekend, holding Cal State Bakersfield scoreless en route to their first Big West win of the year.
Although senior pitcher Kate Judy gave up 11 hits and the Mustangs committed three errors, they still took dow the Roadrunners in game one of the series. Judy’s complete game shutout marked her third win of the season.
In the fourth, sixth and seventh innings, Judy got out of bases-loaded jams. The Cal Poly defense also took advantage of poor base running from Cal State Bakersfield, saving a few runs throughout the process.
Freshman right fielder Maddy Bermudez broke the game open in the fourth inning with a two-run single, starting a Mustang rally.
Freshman shortstop Sienna Erskine, junior outfielder Kiara Blanchard and Barnett continued the Cal Poly momentum, scoring two more runs to end the fourth.
Cal Poly’s 4-0 lead remained safe for the remainder of the game, the final out securing a crucial win in a difficult 2025 season.
“It’s been really challenging, and I’m just really proud of the way our team showed up today,” Head Coach Jenny Condon said.
In both of Saturday’s games, the Mustangs offense exploded in just one inning.
Every Cal Poly run came in the fourth inning in game one. In game two, Erskine, Blanchard and Barnett continued to string hits together, scoring a total of five runs in the fifth inning. Junior third baseman Mylina Garza added a sacrifice fly to give the Mustangs a 5-1 lead late in the game.
Bunts and singles drove the Cal Poly offense on Saturday, with the team focusing on getting runners on base instead of trying to overpower Cal State Bakersfield. Condon addressed the team’s work on bunting this season.
“We’ve been successful with it,” Condon said. “We’ve been trying to get runners in scoring position so just a base hit scores them, and they’re comfortable putting the ball down.”
However, in the sixth inning, the Roadrunners crept back into the game. With a 5-1 lead, Paige Maier gave up three runs, exiting the game with a 5-4 score and two outs.
Redshirt sophomore Ally Robbins, who had not pitched since March 8, entered the game for Maier.
She forced a groundout from Bakersfield’s leadoff batter Maya Molina-Villareal, stranding the bases loaded and keeping Cal Poly ahead.
Robbins continued her dominant performance in the seventh, striking out the side to finish off the Roadrunners. Robbins not only gained her first save of the season, but also netted the team’s first save overall.
“We have been so close so many times, we have such a good team, and everyone just totally believes in each other, so I think having these wins behind their back now gives us all the confidence we need,” Robbins said after the game.
Mustangs fall short on Sunday
Still seated at the bottom of the Big West standings, the Mustangs struggled to keep pace with the Roadrunners in Sunday afternoon’s game.
Cal State Bakersfield broke things open at the top of the second, bringing in four runs to take control early, and they never looked back.
After starting pitcher Kate Judy walked three consecutive batters with the bases loaded, Cal Poly turned to Paige Maier in relief. But the momentum didn’t shift.
The first batter Maier faced launched a grand slam, clearing the bases and extending the Roadrunners’ lead.
“We made a pitching change in hopes that we would be able to get out, and then Paige gave up the grand slam, so obviously, it didn’t work,” Condon said.
Alongside the struggles in the circle, Cal Poly’s defense faltered throughout the game, committing several errors and allowing multiple extra-base hits to sneak past outfielders.
While Bakersfield continued to pile up on the runs, the Mustangs were unable to generate the same offensive spark, falling 11-2 in their attempt to build on Saturday’s win.
“When you have bad pitching, bad defense, and not spectacular hitting, it’s gonna be a tough day,” Condon said.
Despite the lopsided loss, the series still marked a turning point for Cal Poly, which finally broke through with its first two conference wins of the season after weeks of frustration.
Saturday’s back-to-back victories showcased what the team is capable of when both pitching and hitting come together. Sunday served as a reminder that consistency remains a work in progress.
Cal Poly will look to regroup and continue building on that progress when they travel south to face UC Riverside next weekend.
“We’ve gotta leave it all and get better during the week and be ready for Riverside this upcoming weekend,” Condon concluded.
