SAN LUIS OBISPO – Three of the Cal Poly softball program’s four April Big West series occur on the road as the Mustangs visit Cal State Bakersfield for a Friday, April 3 solo matchup at 2:30 p.m. and a Saturday, April 4 doubleheader at 12 noon. After winning two of three home contests last weekend against UC Riverside, eighth-place Cal Poly (9-22, 3-9) sits just a game behind Cal State Bakersfield (6-27, 4-8) in the Big West standings. The Mustangs also trail sixth-place CSUN (9-20, 5-7) by just two games with the top six programs in the standings qualifying for the May 6-9 Big West Championship.
CAL POLY VERSUS CAL STATE BAKERSFIELD: Cal Poly has won 11 of its 12 Big West matchups against Cal State Bakersfield since the Roadrunners joined the conference ahead of the 2021 season. California Collegiate Athletic Association foes from 1985-94, Cal Poly leads the all-time series against Cal State Bakersfield, 46-40.
VENEGAS LOCKED ON TARGET: Only three players in NCAA Division I softball have thrown out more runners than Cal Poly sophomore catcher Maya Venegas, who has taken out 12 would-be basestealers in 30 appearances. Cal Poly’s leader and ranked third among Big West players with six doubles, Venegas threw out a career best three Sacramento State baserunners during the program’s Feb. 19 home opener. Lafayette senior Maggie Klug leads the nation with 14 thrown-out runners while sophomores Gracie Alejo (East Texas A&M) and Macie Bergmann (Drexel) rank second with 13 apiece. Two seasons ago, Cal Poly catcher Julia Barnett finished second nationally with 19 thrown-out runners.
FRESHMEN FUEL THE OFFENSE: Cal Poly’s top two hitters entering the April 3-4 series at Cal State Bakersfield are freshmen with first baseman Myleigh Cooper (.363) topping the lineup while third baseman Leilani Allen (.354) is second. Cooper, one of two Mustangs to start all 31 games alongside second baseman Sienna Erskine, also leads Cal Poly with 33 hits and 11 multi-hit games. Allen, having reached base in 10 straight games and batting .550 (11-for-20) during the previous two series, ranks second with 28 hits and six multi-hit outings.