Liberty Strikes Early Before Falling to Cal Poly, 9-2
2/19/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Liberty struck for two runs in the first inning off of one of the nation's top pitchers, before Cal Poly scored nine unanswered runs to beat the Lady Flames, 9-2, Sunday at the Mary Nutter Classic.
Sierra Hyland, the reigning USA Softball National Player of the Week, improves to 4-2 on the season. She struck out 15 batters, allowing two runs on four hits. Hyland helped out her own cause, batting 3-for-4 with two doubles and four RBI.
Chase Cassady (2-2) drew the loss, yielding five runs, four earned, on six hits while walking one and striking out one in 2 2/3 innings pitched. Elizabeth Engler gave up four runs, three earned, on seven hits in 3 1/3 innings of relief.
Cal Poly's Makenna Young went 3-for-4 with a double, homer and two RBI, while Chelsea Convissar and Hailey Martin both recorded two hits.
Amber Bishop hit 1-for-3 with a homer and two RBI, while Autumn Bishop, Jaclyn Amader and Jasmeen Click registered one hit apiece.
The Lady Flames jumped ahead quickly to begin the game, thanks to back-to-back hits from the Bishop twins. Autumn Bishop hit a one-out single before Amber Bishop belted a two-run blast to left center.
Cassady worked through a bases-loaded situation in the bottom of the first, keeping the Mustangs off the board with a strikeout and flyout.
Hyland posted eight strikeouts over the span of the first three innings, and kept Cal Poly within striking distance.
After leaving five total players on base over the first two frames, the Mustangs broke through in the third inning. The first three batters reached base, on a single and an error followed by an RBI double from Hyland. Martin hit a one-out, two run single to give Cal Poly a 3-2 lead, and Young followed with a two-run homer for a 5-2 advantage. Engler later came on to get the final out.
Cal Poly manufactured a run in the bottom of the fourth, as Convissar bunted for a leadoff single. A sacrifice bunt and groundout sent her to third before Hyland sent an RBI single to left.
Hyland retired 10 straight Lady Flames before hitting Autumn Bishop with a pitch in the sixth frame. She then struck out the next two batters to keep the four-run lead intact.
The Mustangs added three runs to their lead, with RBI doubles by Courtney Tyler and Hyland.
Liberty mounted a scoring threat in the top of the seventh, and Jaclyn Amader singled and Rylee Reynolds reached on an error, putting runners on second and third. However, Hyland set down the next three batters, two via strikeout, to seal the 9-2 victory.
The Lady Flames are facing No. 6/8 UCLA at 5 p.m. ET today to finish out their time at the Mary Nutter Classic.
