BAKERSFIELD – Senior third baseman Mylina Garza tied the Cal Poly softball program’s Saturday doubleheader opening matchup at Cal State Bakersfield with a sixth-inning double, but Roadrunners pinch hitter Cailee Carr broke the deadlock with a two-run homer as the Mustangs fell, 3-1. Cal Poly also dropped Saturday’s second decision, 5-4, despite scoring three times in the seventh to tie the matchup before being eclipsed by Cal State Bakersfield catcher Kayla Visser’s walk-off single.
During Saturday’s opening 3-1 setback, Cal Poly sophomore starting righthander Bree Brennan (6-7) induced an inning-ending double play to close the first before Cal State Bakersfield opened the scoring in the second as third baseman Hannah Garcia followed a leadoff triple from right fielder Madison Marquez with a two-out, run-scoring single up the middle.
Offensively, Cal Poly stranded two baserunners in scoring position to close both the tops of the first and fourth innings and left solo runners on in the third and fifth. The Mustangs eventually broke through against Cal State Bakersfield starting righthander Cedes Saldana (6-14) in the sixth with freshman first baseman Myleigh Cooper singing to lead off, reaching second through shortstop Leilani Allen’s sacrifice bunt and scoring on Garza’s double to right center.
The 1-1 scoreline, however, lasted just a half-inning after Cal State Bakersfield left fielder Kayla Whaley drew a leadoff walk before Carr homered to right center for a 3-1 lead.