(Photo Courtesy of Cal Poly Athletics)
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – After tossing the Cal Poly softball program’s first no-hitter in five seasons and hitting .417 at the six-game Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic (Feb. 20-23), Mustang freshman righthander Sierra Hyland was named both Big West Conference Pitcher and Player of the Week on Monday afternoon.
During Cal Poly’s 4-0 triumph against Maryland (Feb. 22) in Cathedral City, Calif., Hyland – in just her fifth career start – struck out a career-high 12 Terrapins in throwing the first no-hitter by a Mustang since Anna Cahn (2008-11) blanked Utah State on March 7, 2009.
In other pitching performances during the tournament, Hyland struck out nine hitters against New Mexico (Feb. 23) and eight apiece versus Fordham (Feb. 20) and Syracuse (Feb. 21). With the Mustangs also topping Fordham (10-4) and New Mexico (6-1), Hyland won all three of Cal Poly’s tournament games.
In five appearances in the circle, Hyland struck out 42 hitters against 16 walks, held opposing hitters to a .187 batting average and posted a 2.97 ERA in 30.2 innings.
At the plate in four games, Hyland hit safely in each outing and homered against No. 25 Texas (Feb. 20) and Syracuse. She also produced a career-best four RBI versus Texas. For the week at the plate, Hyland led Cal Poly in homers, RBI (six), slugging percentage (.917) and struck out just once in 14 plate appearances.
The last Big West Conference player to claim both awards in the same week was Alex Holmes of UC Davis on March 14, 2011.
Hyland is the first Cal Poly player to earn Big West Pitcher of the Week praise since teammate Chloe Wurst on April 1, 2013 and the first Mustang to be named Player of the Week since Anna Cahn on April 4, 2011.
Following a 12-day hiatus, Cal Poly (7-9) returns to action when hosting its annual Mustang Classic tournament from March 7-9 at Bob Janssen Field.
