Monday, April 6, 20 15
E s t abl ished 19 16
w w w.mus t angne w s .net
Meet your ASI presidential candidates Election starts April 22
“Anchor with Owen” “Connect with Collins” OWEN SCHWAEGERLE Agricultural Business Junior HOMETOWN:
Pleasanton, California
INVOLVEMENT:
Inter Housing Council member Poly Escapes co-leader ASI Board of Directors member
“It started by being inspired in my fraternity by my great grand-big (Jason Colombini), and then I decided to go for it. That’s a part of the anchor: finding that community of people that welcome you and inspire you.”
LANCE COLLINS Civil Engineering Senior HOMETOWN:
Bakersfield, California
INVOLVEMENT:
Orientation board member Poly Rep “(Being president) has always been in the back of my mind ... I’ve been taught leadership and how to be a leader for the last four years, so it really was not a matter of if I can do it, but needing to do it.”
Career Services offers opportunities beyond Spring Career Fair
SUHA SAYA | MUSTANG NE WS JOSEPH PACK | MUSTANG NE WS PLEDGE | Each day of the event focuses on a different word of the pledge against sexual assault: recognize, identify, intervene and create.
ASI stands up to end sexual assault Jessica Nguyen @xjessnguyen
On April 6, Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) will be hosting a weeklong “It’s On Us” event at the Julian A. McPhee University Union (building 65) focusing on the topic of sexual assault and violence awareness. “ASI really chose to have an event like this because we realized we didn’t really have a place on this issue,” said Jana Colombini, Board
of Directors for the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES) member and agricultural science sophomore. “This is such a big issue, so we decided to take it on and see what we can do.” Each event day will focus on a word of the pledge for sexual assault awareness: recognize, identify, intervene and create. Those who take the pledge on Monday will receive a free T-shirt.
see IT’S ON US, pg 3.
Naba Ahmed & Brendan Abrams @NabaAhmed & @BrenAbrams
Spring Career Fair may seem like the last chance for students to meet with employers on campus with summer approaching. According to Director of Career Services Martin Shibata, Spring Career Fair tends to represent smaller companies with a broader base for students they hope to employ. “It has a calmer environment where students can explore and engage with employers easier,” Shibata said. As for seniors, this career fair could have the jobs they want to ensure before graduation, he said. “Sometimes, there are late work orders or a company got a big contract recently and those positions need to be filled,” Shibata said.
see SERVICES, pg 2.
News... 1, 3, 4-5 | Career Fair... 2, 6, 7 | Opinion... 9 | Classifieds... 10 | Sports... 11-12
Monday, April 6, 2015
CAREER FAIR | 2 SERVICES continued from pg 1. Despite this being the last Career Services-sponsored event with recruiting employers on campus, this is not the last chance for students to interact with future employers, Assistant Director of Career Services Charlotte Rinaldi said. Career Services is launching the first Startup Career Fair on April 16 and the first spring Senior Career Symposium on April 24. As for the Startup Career Fair, Cal Poly students will have the chance to mingle with representatives from California startup companies for the first time. The event, hosted by Cal Poly Entrepreneurs, the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) and Cal Poly Career Services, promises to put a fresh spin on the search for workplace experience while giving startups valuable exposure to a crop of potential employees. Startups look to hire the best and brightest — just like large corporations — but often their specific needs are different. Working at a startup requires a level of intellectual flexibility that might not be as necessary for the typical employee at a large corporation. Danielle Epstein, employer development specialist at Career Services, who worked at multiple startups in her own career, has experienced this phenomenon firsthand. “It’s very creative, and it’s energizing for students to work in that kind of environment,” Epstein said. This is good news for students
with a liberal arts background and for technical-minded students who hope to enter an innovative workplace. Chelsea Brown, manager of student innovation programs at the CIE, voiced a similar sentiment about working at a startup. “Often it is very rewarding, not only in terms of pay but also in the learning experience,” she said. Unlike the process at many larger companies, which tend to work like well-oiled machines, with cut-and-dry roles for employees, you’re encouraged to solve problems on your own, Brown said. At the Startup Career Fair, students are likely to undergo an exciting experience usually not afforded by other career fairs. “You might have the chance to interact with a founder, so it’s a different type of opportunity to inform your own decision,” Epstein said. That brings with it a responsibility on the part of students to present themselves well. “Startups are really looking for a passion behind the company’s mission,” Brown said. Along with the Startup Career Fair, Career Services is hosting the Senior Career Symposium, specifically targeted to graduating seniors. After a needs assessment was conducted about what is important to students, what they need and what would most benefit them, Career Services decided that spring was a more logical time to launch the symposium, Rinaldi said. The symposium will consist of a keynote speaker, an employer panel and two workshop tracks, College of Liberal
JOSEPH PACK | MUSTANG NE WS START YOUR CAREER
| Career Services is hosting its first ever Startup Career Fair for students to network, showcase and interview.
Arts Career Counselor Laura Hunkler said. It will be a daylong conference- style event. “We are going to have two tracks of workshops. One will be for students in the stages of looking for a job and the other for students who already have a job,” Hunkler said.
For students still on the job hunt, there will be workshops that cover interviewing, resume review and how to get a job. Those who are employed will have workshops with topics like professional brand, salary negotiations and planning your financial future.
Senior International Program Manager at Mindbody Michael Leibovich, also a Cal Poly alum, will be the keynote speaker. “He’s going to talk about his career path and encourage students to trust themselves,” Rinaldi said. “He will have an inspirational and motivational
message for students.” The Senior Symposium is set to take place on the lawn of Student Services (building 124) at 9:30 a.m. on April 24, while the Startup Career Fair will take place on April 15 at 10 a.m. in the Advanced Technology Lab (building 7).
Monday, April 6, 2015 IT’S ON US continued from pg 1. ASI hopes to gather at least 600 pledges. “Recognize that sexual assault is an issue at Cal Poly,” Colombini said. “Sexual assault does exist. It’s on us to intervene.” In addition to Monday’s events, there will be a presentation called “Sex Signals Speaking Engagement” at Chumash Auditorium (building 65, room 205) at 7 p.m. Other organizations involved with “It’s On Us” week are Safer, PULSE, Center for Community Engagement, Cal Poly Athletics and greek life. “It’s on each person to inter-
vene, to speak up, to say something, to stop hurting, to be the change,” Safer coordinator Christina Kaviani said. “It’s not one program or one organization’s responsibility; it’s the whole campus’ responsibility.” On Tuesday, greek life will take charge of focusing on identifying assault issues. There will also be a spoken-word performance in the UU Plaza. Cal Poly Athletics will have game booths related to the topic of intervening on Wednesday. There will also be a free self-defense class on Dexter Lawn. Thursday will focus on creating a more positive Cal Poly environment for sexual assault victims,
NEWS | 3 Colombini said. “We’ll just create this change of students, this pack of students who want to resolve this issue,” Colombini said. The event gives Cal Poly a chance to take a stand on sexual assault awareness. “I think we need to use the momentum of all the news coverage, films being made, people that are speaking up about it to really use that to leverage us to take a stand as our university Cal Poly,” Kaviani said. “‘It’s On Us’ week is another opportunity for us to take the ownership of creating systems at the university that help change the outcome of sexual assault happening.”
Monday, April 6, 2015
NEWS | 4
PolyCultural Weekend to draw hundreds of incoming Mustangs
FILE PHOTO | MUSTANG NE WS
Samantha Pryor @sammpryor
The 10th annual PolyCultural Weekend will take place April 10-12 this year with an anticipated attendance of 300 condi-
tionally accepted high school seniors and transfer students, according to Que Dang, the MultiCultural Center’s (MCC) assistant coordinator. An opportunity for underrepresented students to get
familiar with campus, PolyCultural Weekend began as a “grassroots,” club-based initiative, Dang said. A couple of
see PCW, pg 5.
Monday, April 6, 2015 planning for the event, which amounts to over 1,000 hours of unpaid work. In addition to the PolyCultural coordinators and committee members contributing to the weekend’s success, students on campus can get involved by choosing to host prospective students or volunteer for the weekend’s events, both of which are rewarding experiences, according to PolyCultural Weekend coordinator and business graduate Jessica Ryugo. Ryugo, who was hosted as a high school senior in 2010, has been consistently involved with the program throughout her college career. Now in the MBA program, she helps direct the “biggest diversity driven recruitment initiative” on campus. Recruiting for PolyCultural Weekend is no easy task. The process begins with a phone-a-thon, a procedure that involves the coordinators acquiring phone numbers from the admissions office of mu l t i c u l t u r a l s t u d e nt s , Ryugo said. “(PolyCultural Weekend) is typically based on ethnicity, so we try to get more underrepresented students to boost up our diversity numbers,” she said. Students can also be contacted through other mediums such as their Cal Poly email or text blasts. However, if a student is not specifically contacted, they are still welcome to attend the weekend’s festivities. “If people hear about it HARRISON CHEUNG | MUSTANG NE WS and want to come, they FULL CIRCLE | Jessica Ryugo, PolyCultural Weekend coordinator are welcome,” she said. “It’s and business graduate, first attended the event as a high school senior. not exclusive.” being institutionalized through To eliminate exclusivity, new PCW the MCC. initiatives are being put into continued from pg 4. However, PolyCultural Week- place this year, Dang said. students adopted the idea from end is still mainly based on Potential incoming students other campuses that had simi- volunteers, according to Dang. now have the option to choose lar programs, and over the years The weekend is spearheaded whether they want to be housed transformed it from a strictly by a group of four coordina- or partnered with an identified volunteer-based program to tors who spend an entire year LGBT student.
NEWS | 5 “This is the first year that we are actively recruiting and being inclusive of LGBT students,” Dang said. “The Pride Center is now a partner club within the weekend.” PolyCultural Weekend is working to appeal to a wider audience by also introducing two new panels: one for firstgeneration parents and another hosted by ASI Student Government to encourage diverse students to apply for positions on staff. Further events target students of all ethnicities to make them feel welcomed and comfortable, Ryugo said. A well-known event is the club showcase, where students can tour other clubs’ booths to meet members. This format allows those who are being hosted to make connections with other clubs. Hosts remain unbiased
throughout the weekend to give the students a chance to experience all cultures at Cal Poly. “Even though I am associated with the Chinese Student Association, I would never not share anything about other clubs,” Ryugo said. “It’s always positive; you never want to bash any clubs.” Animal science freshman Sergio Dimas attended PolyCultural Weekend last year as a high school senior and said the weekend presented numerous opportunities to meet other people from different backgrounds. “If your host wasn’t with you, it wasn’t like you were lost,” he said. “It was a good chance to make new friends.” The weekend, however, isn’t solely targeted on incoming students having a memorable experience. Those who choose to host or volunteer that week-
end walk away with a different outlook, mechanical engineering sophomore Ali Harake said. “(Being a host) expanded my perspective on everyone,” he said. “I got to experience SLO differently. Usually I’m just with my friends, but being a teacher to someone and showing them the best things to do around SLO really improves your morale.” Current Cal Poly student involvement contributes to the PolyCultural Weekend alumni, Dang said. The connections future students make with their hosts and others on campus help eliminate culture shock when they accept their admission. “They have already made connections with students, and they utilize those connections,” she said. “They already have a sense of belonging to a group of people they shared 48 hours with.”
CAREER FAIR | 6
Monday, April 6, 2015
Best practices for first impressions Madi Salvati @madisalvati
show genuine interest ask for recruiters’ information to stay in contact
create a solid pitch research and prepare questions that show off what you know
display your personality be yourself and don’t hesitate to use humor
Your palms are sweaty and you’re trying to remember if you put deodorant on this morning. Your tailored suit is overheating, so you anxiously unbutton the collar of your pressed polo shirt to get some air. You can’t get nervous now. Not at this moment. As you approach the employer from Tesla, you take a deep breath and rehearse your pitch one more time in your head. Here goes nothing. When it comes to approaching employers at career fairs, it’s important to have some sort of script planned ahead of time. Aside from giving employers your whole spiel about why you want to work for them, it’s a good idea to have a handful of questions in your back pocket to ask employers as well. These questions you ask can vary depending on why you are at the career fair. When asked about what type of questions are appropriate to ask employers, Tammy Martin, the career counselor for the College of Engineering, said asking questions that show genuine interest is a great way to impress an employer. “Ask questions that show off what you know,” Martin said. “And it really varies on what you are there for.” Depending on if it’s an internship or if you’re looking for a potential career, questions to ask employers will be different. “Ask what you want to know and what you are interested in,” Martin said. Martin also relayed a story of a freshman who attended a career fair a few years ago looking for an internship. Normally, employers will ask if a student is a junior or a se-
nior, but this freshman had a backup plan: questions. “This student was asked two days later if they wanted to come and work for that company,” Martin said. The reason that student was hired for that internship was because he expressed genuine interest and enthusiasm for the company and had questions prepared that showed off what he already knew. “He was very enthusiastic and wellprepared,” Martin said. Sameen Sultan, a business administration alumna who now works at Oracle, agreed about showing interest. She specifically emphasized asking for recruiter information. “You can ask a company for their recruiter’s information to stay in contact with them,” she said. “It’s important to network.” In addition, Sultan mentioned the importance of asking what type of candidates a company is looking to hire. “You won’t know if you’re a good fit for a company if you don’t know who they’re looking for,” she said. When it comes to approaching employers and making a good first impression, having a solid pitch alongside such questions is important, but once that’s finished, what do you have left? How do you keep the interest of the employer and hold a steady conversation? Jake Odello, vice chair of the University Union Advisory Board, said one of the best ways to engage an employer is to use humor. “Using humor to begin the conversation is a great way to engage employers and make a good first impression,” Odello said. Next time you are trying not to sweat through your crisply ironed collared shirt while conversing with an employer, remember to be yourself and show off what you know. It might get you further than you think.
Monday, April 6, 2015
CAREER FAIR | 7
Tips for the summer job search Be proactive Tim Wetzel @timawetzel
You’re in the home stretch, Mustangs — just a couple short months and school will be out. Before addressing your beer gut or pasty skin, you might want to start looking for a summer job or internship. Lauren Platte, a recruiting associate and research analyst at Career Services, said now is the time to apply. “Starting early definitely helps,” Platte said. “We see the largest number of summer job and internship opportunities advertised during winter and spring quarters.” Helen Pang, a career counselor and College of Science and Math (COSAM) specialist, agreed. “I’d suggest being proactive and taking advantage of all the resources we have on campus,” Pang said. “We invite industry professionals to come talk to students on campus about their careers, and it’s a great way for students to come talk to students about their careers.” But you’re likely wondering where you’re going to find a job this early.
The answer lies with Charlotte Rinaldi, assistant director at Career Services. “Where do I start?” Rinaldi said. “Networking, of course. MustangJOBS, our Startup Career Fair, LinkedIn … The list goes on. Talking to alumni or people in your community doing the kind of work you want to do can be extremely helpful.” Mathematics Department Chair Joe Borzellino is a huge advocate for Career Services. “When I first became department chair, these resources really didn’t exist,” Borzellino said. “Now, Career Services really provides a more robust career experience for our students who are interested in finding jobs or internships, and students really have a lot more easily accessible opportunities than they’ve had in the past.” So maybe you don’t have to lose hair over searching for jobs. Don’t grab your swimsuit just yet, though — you’ve still got to apply, and companies aren’t going to take just anyone for a summer internship or job. Rinaldi said companies look for many of the same traits in summer employees as in permanent ones.
Take advantage of resources “Employers want people who are hard-working, who take initiative, who are excited about their company and who want to contribute, not just learn,” Rinaldi said. “Of course, it’s an opportunity for a student to learn and to develop skills, but companies are also hoping that an intern will contribute to the company while they’re there.” That’s right, you better dust off that resume you haven’t touched since last May. Don’t worry if it looks a little emptier than you’d like. According to Platte, companies know interns and summer employees won’t be as experienced as their full-time employees. “Employers expect students coming into summer internships to be a bit more green, so they understand that students aren’t going to have extensive experience prior to being hired,” Platte said. “Things they do look for are leadership skills, dedication and motivation.” Securing a job won’t be that bad, but stop eyeing that tanning lotion. You’ve got to decide how long you’re going to keep this job. According to Borzellino, it’s hard to retain a summer job
through fall quarter. “I think it’s very difficult to keep a job and simultaneously work on your degree,” Borzellino said. “Both are going to suck up a lot of time, and coupled with courses getting harder and harder, good grades and a career will be very hard to maintain simultaneously.” Pang also said that retaining
Talk to alumni a summer internship is difficult but added that it might just depend on the job. “Some internships are very structured about what time period their employees are hired,” Pang said. “Some internships are more flexible and will let students work part-time while at school, but it depends very heavily on
the program.” Getting a summer internship can be a lot of work. However, if you spend a little more time researching as well as networking instead of lounging on the beach, you should be able to work somewhere that will really help your career. Don’t worry, Avila will still be there when you’re finished.
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OPINION | 9
Deconstructing the festival fever Liana Riley @Ri__Li
Liana Riley is a political science sophomore and Mustang News columnist. These views don’t necessarily reflect the editorial coverage of Mustang News. The grass was mossy green with the occasional patch of uprooted earth, dug up by Birkenstock heels. I swayed to Death Cab For Cutie’s “Cath” as the guy next to me looked as if he was seconds away from vomiting within a five-inch radius of our group. This was the magic of Outside Lands. Last year, I had been intent on becoming a part of the herd that attends the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, an outing most Cal Poly students are jumping on the bandwagon for these days. I had seen the pictures, read the reviews and heard the stories. Unfortunately, I was part of the festival-rush surplus and didn’t make the cut. I scanned Stubhub for a fortnight, seeking out my golden ticket. I then found myself shopping for festival garb that could double as torture devices from the Spanish Inquisition. That was when I decided to cut ties. I opted for an Outside Lands ticket instead and had the time of my life. I people watched, almost got thrown up on and, though I had some reservations about the aforementioned festival culture, bobbed my head along with thousands of festivalgoers. I am hoping to attend Lightning in a Bottle this year, but I am curious if its “Leave it Better, Leave it Beautiful” initiative is as genuine as the event’s promoters claim. And, of course, I aspire to crowd surf at Burning Man in the future as a cool parent with a fanny pack and some edibles in tow.
The music industry is now gravitating toward a mass production of these weekend festivals because they are wildly lucrative, and I, like many other college students, have become absorbed with this culture. Without question, festivals have changed the way we experience live music. Woodstock in 1969 — the festival trailblazer — was an expedition meant to spread peace and unity through a shared live music experience. Music festivals have since garnered the power of reviving and reuniting groups; Outkast and No Doubt serve as examples of big acts coming back to life. They can score icons like Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen or Elton John. They excel at putting new acts in the limelight (St. Vincent, anyone?). The two-weekend strategy Coachella has adopted suits it well, placing it at the top of the music festival hierarchy. What began as a two-day jaunt in the desert in 2001 — Ben Harper, Beck and Weezer performed — is now a $60 million enterprise. Today, Coachella is host to a gross amount of cultural appropriation. Hamsa and yin-yang t-shirts are viewed as stylish trends instead of religious symbols. People are commonly seen wearing indigenous headdresses as a fashion accessory rather than to pay homage to Native American culture. Urban Outfitters now has a Coachella-themed line. And it seems flower crowns are as necessary as a bottle of water. I’ve heard complaints that festivals have peaked, but this is a misconception. Instead, they have plateaued. They are becoming saturated, artificial forms of their past selves with no sign of stopping. It seems the atmosphere has become a hotbed of sponsors hoping to cash out and companies attempting to exploit
Pop and circumstance a captive audience. If we disposed of the inflated ticket prices, excessive sponsors and obsession with offensive fashion trends, there would be genuine substance — a raw and authentic passion for live music. I know I am being idealistic — part of sustaining these annual festivals is turning a profit, which means exploiting people’s love of music and their need for cultural prestige. If only festival organizers could
still maintain these successful ventures without this sort of profiteering. These organizers have overextended and alienated their original audiences by booking acts like Kanye West and Drake, both of which would never have made it on the bill initially. I am hopeful that this drug-infused and overexposed scene will die down in the future and return to its roots. I envision a surreal experience
intent on providing accessible live music, curated to a diverse audience with a mutual passion for the music. This sounds rather naive and a bit 60s-hippy of me, but it’s a vision I feel is worth working toward. In the meantime, you can find me purchasing some Flash Tattoos and colorfully beaded bracelets; I’ll be somewhere nodding along to Kendrick this summer, trying to not get thrown up on.
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Monday, April 6, 2015
SPORTS | 11
Baseball takes 1-of-3 in Big West opening series
CHRISTA LAM | MUSTANG NE WS SOLID START | Junior starting pitcher Casey Bloomquist dominated Cal State Fullerton on Thursday, throwing 7 2/3 innings of scoreless ball as Cal Poly opened Big West Conference play with a 5-0 win on the road.
Nick Larson @CPMustangSports
The Cal Poly baseball team began its Big West Conference title defense last Thursday at Cal State Fullerton. Despite some early-season woes, the Mustangs came away from their first conference game with a strong 5-0 victory, a performance that exemplified Cal Poly’s potential. The Mustangs followed up with an extra-inning loss Friday, falling 2-1 in the 10th. It took a walkoff homer by the Titans to break
up the pitcher’s duel. The rubber game Saturday afternoon was a different story. Cal Poly was unravelled by Cal State Fullerton early. Titans designated hitter David Olmedo-Barrera blasted a grand slam off Mustangs freshman starter Andrew Bernstein in the first inning with no outs. Bernstein was pulled from the game following the home run without recording a single out. The Titans maintained their offensive dominance, tallying runs in four of the first five innings, including six runs
in the fifth to bring the final score to 13-2. Cal Poly was forced to use seven different pitchers to get through 8 innings of work. The Mustangs offense was decent, finishing with 11 hits. The lack of run production stemmed from leaving 10 runners on base, a number that would doom any team. Senior left fielder Zack Zehner, junior second baseman Mark Mathias and junior designated hitter Brian Mundell each recorded two hits, with Zehner tallying the Mustangs’ lone RBI.
Despite the big loss, Cal Poly can come away from the conference-opening series with a few positives. Ju n i o r s t a r t e r C a s e y Bloomquist and freshman starter Kyle Smith both pitched brilliantly. Bloomquist shut out the Titans in 7 2/3 innings of work Thursday in arguably his best start of the year. He is now 3-2 with a 2.56 ERA. Smith pitched 8 innings of one-run ball Friday, striking out seven. He matched the Titans starter but picked up the no-decision thanks to
the extra-innings game. Smith is 2-5 despite a solid 3.76 ERA. On the of fensive side, Mundell, Mathias and junior shortstop Peter Van Gansen have been strong. Mundell leads Cal Poly with a .371 batting average. He has also belted four home runs and 16 RBIs, trailing only Zehner, who has five homers and 26 RBIs. Van Gansen and Mathias have been the contact hitters the Mustangs need at the top of the lineup, batting .357 and .311, respectively. C a l Po l y ( 1 0 - 1 8 , 1 - 2
Big West Conference) will return home for the second game in a nonconference home-andaway series Tuesday against Pepperdine, the side that k n o c k e d t h e Mu s t a n g s out of the NCAA Regionals a year ago, and beat Cal Poly again last week. They will follow that up with a three-game conference series against Hawaii (12-19, 3-3) at Baggett Stadium. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. for Tuesday’s matchup against Pepperdine, and for Friday’s game against Hawaii.
SPORTS | 12
Monday, April 6, 2015
Softball walks away with series win against UC Santa Barbara Jesse Summers @CPMustangSports
The bottom half of the first inning for the Cal Poly softball team seemed more like a video game than a live sports event. Batting through the entire lineup within their first three outs of Saturday’s series finale against UC Santa Barbara, the Mustangs recorded five runs on seven hits against three different Gauchos pitchers. Needless to say, the Mustangs (19-21, 2-4 Big West Conference) played with a comfortable cushion over the following six innings, eventually putting away the Gauchos 9-4 to clinch the series win. “(The early lead) takes a lot of pressure off of them,” head coach Jenny Condon said. “They feel like they don’t have to be perfect for every pitch of every inning, so to put five runs up in the first inning definitely helped our momentum for the rest of the day.” Leading Cal Poly’s offensive surge this weekend was sophomore outfielder Courtney Tyler, who followed up her grand slam in the first game of Friday’s doubleheader with another homer to center field in the bottom of the first inning the following day. “I was just seeing the ball better today,” Tyler said. “I didn’t do well last weekend, so I worked all week to make some adjustments, and I just felt a lot more confident.” Nine runs is the secondmost Cal Poly has scored in a game all season, and more than half of them came during its first-inning tear. “I feel like we really came out on top, and we strung some hits together,” sophomore pitcher Sierra Hyland said. “I think
we had a much better energy today than what we usually do.” Starting in her second game of the three-game series, Hyland finished 2-0 from the circle. Despite allowing 16 total hits on the weekend, she was still able to maintain c om mand and c ompl e te both games. “Getting such an early lead makes me feel a lot more safe and comfortable,” Hyland said. “I know that I still have to go through the next five or six innings, but it’s just a little bit of a cushion to rely on.” Cal Poly began the series with a double-header on Friday, which it split with its Central Coast rival. The Mustangs took the first game 5-3, highlighted by Tyler’s grand slam, the Gauchos took an early second-inning lead in the PAUL BRENNEMAN | MUSTANG NE WS second game, and though | Freshman pitcher Lindsey Chalmers threw a complete game and gave up just one earned run against UC Santa Barbara on Friday. UNLUCKY Cal Poly nearly made a seventhinning comeback, the Mustangs fell short 4-3. Overall, any series victory is critical for Cal Poly moving forward in conference play, especially following last weekend’s sweep at the hands of Cal State Northridge. “I think we need to keep pushing. Just because we get a lead we shouldn’t settle with it, but we’ve been better at keeping our energy up throughout the whole game,” Tyler said. Cal Poly has the week off before heading north to face UC Davis in a three-game series. Game one starts at noon on April 11. “It’s great to take the series. Santa Barbara is a great team, and really, all the teams in the conference are similar, so we’ve got to show up every game to play and take care of the things that we do well,” Condon said. PAUL BRENNEMAN | MUSTANG NE WS “We’ve got to attack every team like we did UCSB today.” SELF SUPPORT | Sophomore pitcher Sierra Hyland notched her 13th and 14th wins of the season this weekend against UC Santa Barbara.