March 19, 2008

Box Score

Honolulu - Cal won its eighth straight game with a 5-3 win over St. Mary's in the opening day of the Bank of Hawaii Invitational, hosted by the University of Hawaii on Wednesday afternoon.

The Bears (26-9), who had just two hits, took advantage of four SMC errors for their five runs. Cal also used all three of its pitchers - Valerie Arioto, Brittany LaRosa and Marissa Drewrey as well. Drewrey earned the victory (No. 14) after allowing one run on two hits with three strikeouts in two innings of work.

Arioto helped Cal race out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when she crossed home plate on a throwing error by the catcher who tried to throw her out at third base. Later in the inning, Erika Racklin scored from third base after Bernice Masaniai grounded out to the first baseman, giving the Bears a 2-0 lead. Gina Leomiti, who was on third base, would then eventually score on an illegal pitch when Sanoe Kekahuna was at bat.

St. Mary's did not give up and rallied to tie the game at 3-3, after scoring runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.

Cal came right back in the bottom of the sixth with two runs, courtesy of Erika Racklin and Savannah Hensley to build a 5-3 lead.

After Drewrey walked the first batter in the top of the seventh, she settled down to induce a strikeout, a foul out and ground out to end the game.