BERKELEY – As individual accolades roll in, California finds the silver lining to a tough season. This time it's for senior duo Lindsay Rood and Kamalani Dung, who picked up NFCA All-Pacific-Region honors, the organization announced Thursday.
 
Shortstop Rood, who led the conference through the regular season with 78 hits and 30 stolen bases, the most steals without being caught in the nation, was named to the second team for the second consecutive year, while ace Dung was listed on the third team for the second time of her collegiate career. Dung's first honor came in 2017 after winning Mountain West Pitcher of the Year as a sophomore at Fresno State before transferring to Cal.
 
At this point, Dung is the only pitcher this to shutout the No. 6 Arizona Wildcats, who will host a regional. She gave up just two hits in the 1-0 victory, Cal's first win over UA since 2016. She is the first pitcher in the program to shutout the Wildcats since 2012 when Jolene Henderson did so in a 2-0 victory. The Waianae, Hawaii native currently holds a 2.32 ERA, which ranks eighth in the league.
 
"Both of them were great leaders for us throughout the season and had some great outings for us," said head coach Diane Ninemire. "Rood is one of the most athletic kids I've had and the way Dung commanded the circle and dug deep for us is something we are all very proud of."
 
The Bears were left out of the NCAA tournament for the second time since 1988, when Ninemire took over, and the first time since 2014. Cal finished eighth in the Pac-12 with an overall 28-27 record and a 5-18 showing in league play.
 
The program looks forward to a bright future as it returns more than half of its starters including Pac-12 All-Freshman honoree Makena Smith who played catcher and first base for the Bears. Smith's .315 batting average was the third highest for the Bears, behind sophomore catcher Lauren Espalin (.346), who will also return.
 
Another bright spot is the team's upcoming renovation of Levine-Fricke Field, slated to begin in fall of 2019. The Bears will spend the 2020 season on the road and return to Strawberry Canyon in 2021 with a new stadium.
 
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