SAN DIEGO, CALIF. - On Friday's opening day of the San Diego Classic, the Charlotte 49ers softball team suffered a tough loss to Cal Poly, 3-2 along with a 9-0 shutout loss to San Diego State. With the losses, the 49ers fall to 8-8 on the season, while the Mustangs improve to 4-7 and the Aztecs move to 11-9.

Chelsea Ingersoll hit what looked to be the game-tying home run in the top of the seventh inning of game one vs. the Cal Poly Mustangs, knocking a ball deep to left field that ricocheted off the Cal Poly outfielder and over the fence. But the play was ruled a ground-rule double instead, and the Niners stranded Ingersoll on second base to end the game. 

Prior to that, the Mustangs had taken a 3-0 lead with runs scored in the second and fourth innings. But Charlotte responded with a two-run top of the sixth to pull within a run.

Samantha Slade led off the sixth with a single through the left side, and the next batter, Briana Gwaltney, got a base-hit to right field and ended up on third base after a fielding error that scored Slade. Kalie Lang's RBI groundout pushed Gwaltney across the plate to make the score 3-2.  

Ingersoll's double was one of just four Charlotte hits on the day, with Gwaltney, Slade and Lang all collecting one apiece. Lang drove in the only RBI of the day for the Niners. 

Despite pitching a complete game and allowing just three runs on six hits, rookie pitcher Lexi Betancourt suffered her third loss of the season, falling to 5-3. Rebecca Patton picked up the win for the Mustangs.

Charlotte fell behind early in the second game, as the San Diego State Aztecs scored a run in the first inning and tacked on four more in the second for a 5-0 lead.

The 49ers' best scoring chance came in the bottom of the first inning when Gwaltney reached on a fielder's choice, Jackie Kleinsmith singled and Lang walked to load the bases. But Slade grounded out to end the inning and keep Charlotte off the scoreboard.

A four-run SDSU fourth was enough to inflict the eight-run rule in the Aztecs' favor. This marks the first time all season that Charlotte has been shut out or mercy-ruled.

Natalie Capone led the team with a 2-for-3 effort in the game, while Rogers, Gwaltney, Kleinsmith and Vela each added a hit for the Niners. Justine Maeva led the San Deigo State offense, going 3-for-4 with four RBIs, a double and a home run.

Katie Watkins was charged with the loss, dropping to 3-5 on the season. Through 3.0 innings, the sophomore pitcher surrendered eight runs (six earned) on six hits. She walked three and struck out four. Rebecca Arbino earned the win for SDSU, allowing no runs on six hits in the complete game.

Charlotte returns to the diamond today to face Long Beach State (5 p.m.) and Brigham young (9:30 p.m.). Live stats for both games will be available on the softball schedule page.