SOFTBALL CONCLUDES TOURNAMENT WITH 6-2 LOSS TO CAL POLY

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- Cal Poly's Sierra Hyland allowed no earned runs over five innings and Breana West hit a three-run homer to lead the Mustangs to a 3-0 victory over Sacramento State in the final day of the Mustang Softball Classic Sunday afternoon.

After a nice start to the tournament on Friday in which Sacramento State beat Santa Clara, the Hornets lost each of their last four games, including a pair of losses to Cal Poly (13-9).

Sacramento State dropped to 8-10 overall, including 1-5 when playing on an opponent's home field.

Hyland (10-3) beat the Hornets for the second straight day, allowing four hits and one unearned run over five innings. Sacramento State had multiple chances to score, stranding nine runners on base. That included failing to score with a runner at third base and one out or less on three different occasions during the game. Over the last three games of the tournament, the Hornets combined to leave 26 runners on base, and were just 6-for-29 in at-bats with runners in scoring position.

Sacramento State scored the game's first run on an RBI-single from Sasha Margulies which plated Kortney Solis. The Hornets later loaded the bases with two outs in the inning, but could score no more. After Cal Poly tied the game at 1-1, the Hornets had a runner at third base with one out in the second, but could not score.

The Mustangs struck for four runs in the third, including the game's biggest blow, a first-pitch, two-out, three-run homer that West clubbed over the center field wall. By the time the ball landed beyond the fence, Cal Poly had a commanding 5-1 lead.

The Hornets had the bases loaded in the fifth inning with nobody out, but could not score. And in the sixth, after a Kayla Papez RBI-single, Sacramento State had runners at the corners with no outs, but failed to push across anymore runs.

Hornet starter Taylor Stroud (3-3) took the loss, allowing six hits and five runs over three innings. Jennifer Hartman threw the final three frames, allowing a run and three hits.

Margulies (2-for-4 with an RBI) and Paige Castro (2-for-3) both had multiple-hit games while Alexa Chattleton went 1-for-4 and now has a career-high eight-game hitting streak. She also had a seven-game hitting streak earlier this season.

The Hornets return to action on Wednesday when the team travels to Reno for a doubleheader with Nevada beginning at 1 p.m.