The Cal Poly softball team finally found its breakthrough, securing a 2-1 victory over Seattle University in the second game of their Wednesday doubleheader.
The win snapped an 11-game losing streak, giving the Mustangs their first victory since March 2 against LMU.
The Mustangs opened the week with a tough matchup against the University of Washington, falling short 1-5 against the Huskies on Tuesday.
Cal Poly faced Seattle University in a Wednesday afternoon game that came down to the wire. The Mustangs fought hard but ultimately fell short of a point in a 5-6 loss.
Throughout their 11-game skid in March, they suffered multiple close losses, including multiple games decided by two runs or fewer.
In game two of Wednesday’s doubleheader, the Mustangs finally had a close game go their way. They held off the Redhawks with a strong defensive performance and timely hitting to take the 2-1 win.
After leaving runners on base throughout the trip to Washington, Cal Poly finally executed in the key moments. Freshman infielder Sienna Erskine sparked the offense in the sixth inning, leading off with a double to center field before stealing third.
Junior Kiara Blanchard followed with an RBI double down the right-field line to put Cal Poly on the board. Later in the inning, freshman infielder Aly Barrios came through with a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Blanchard and extending Cal Poly’s lead to 2-0.
Seattle responded with a run in the bottom of the sixth, but senior pitcher Kate Judy stood tall under pressure, striking out the batter with a runner on third to escape the threat.
The Mustang defense held firm, finishing strong to secure the win and finally put an end to their lengthy losing streak.
For Cal Poly, this victory was more than just another game. It was a much-needed sign of progress in what has been a difficult season. The Mustangs have struggled to string together wins, with inconsistent offense and defensive lapses proving costly.
The team is looking to recapture the competitive edge they showed in their strong 2023-24 season and turn things around as they head into the heart of conference play.
The win is a good sign at this point in the season, but the Mustangs are still searching for their first Big West victory. Sitting at the bottom of the Big West standings, Cal Poly has a 5-24 overall record and is 0-9 in conference play.
This victory couldn’t have come at a better time for Cal Poly. With non-conference play now behind them, the Mustangs return home looking to build on their success as they resume Big West competition.
Cal Poly’s next matchup is a crucial Blue-Green Rivalry series against UC Santa Barbara, who sit at Nol. 3 in the Big West standings.
The Mustangs travel to Santa Barbara for a doubleheader on Saturday, March 29 and finish the series on Sunday at noon.
