The Cal Poly Mustangs softball team concluded its season on May 2 with a narrow 4-3 defeat against UC Davis. The game saw the Mustangs tie the score three times before ultimately falling short in their final opportunity.
The matchup was marked by senior left fielder Kiara Blanchard, who finished her collegiate career with a strong performance, going 3-for-4 at the plate. Freshman first baseman Myleigh Cooper contributed an RBI single in the first inning to even the score at one, and Blanchard followed up with a run-scoring double in the fourth to tie it again. After UC Davis regained the lead in the fifth, third baseman Mylina Garza singled home Cooper to bring Cal Poly level for a third time.
UC Davis moved ahead once more in the sixth inning when pinch runner Vanessa Calvillo scored on a wild pitch. In their final at-bat, Cal Poly put runners on first and third but could not capitalize as freshman designated player Madi Bohannon struck out to end both the game and season for the Mustangs.
All four graduating players participated in Saturday’s finale. Blanchard completed her career ranked tenth all-time at Cal Poly with 62 walks, eleventh with 28 doubles, and thirteenth with 71 runs batted in. Garza made her 177th appearance—starting all but four games over four years—and ranks third all-time for sacrifice flies at eight.
Pitchers Ally Robbins and Amy Ross each set new personal bests during this season for appearances, innings pitched, and strikeouts.
As another campaign closes for Cal Poly softball, attention will turn toward developing younger talent while honoring departing seniors’ contributions.
