March 28, 2008

Box Score

Berkeley - The No. 1-ranked Arizona State Sun Devils overcame a 2-0 deficit with three runs in the sixth and one in the seventh to defeat the 23rd-ranked California Golden Bears, 4-2, in the conference opener on a cold and rainy Friday afternoon at Levine-Fricke Field.

Cal (31-11, 0-1) resumes conference play tomorrow versus No. 10 Arizona at 1:00 p.m. The Wildcats battle Stanford at 7:00 p.m. tonight.

Gina Leomiti provided much of the offense for the Bears, notching three hits on four plate appearances, including her fifth home run of the season and two RBI. Leomiti equaled her home run total from last season as well, and now has 12 for her career.

It was a classic pitcher's duel for four innings as neither team could muster any runs on the board. Arizona State threatened in the top half of the second, however, with the bases loaded and one out. Jackie Vasquez would reach on a fielder's choice that allowed second baseman Shannon Houston to throw out pinch runner Michelle Nulliner at home plate. One play later, Marissa Drewrey struck out Mindy Cowles to end the inning.

Cal almost scored in the fourth inning with Savannah Hensley on third base with one out, but ASU pitcher Katie Burkhart induced a ground out and a pop up to end the inning.

The game changed in the bottom of the fifth inning, when Cal took a 2-0 lead after Leomiti planted a two-run home run over the right field wall (Valerie Arioto scored as well). The momentum gained by the Bears did not last long however, as ASU responded with three runs in the top of the sixth to take a 3-2 lead. Katie Crabb connected for a two-run home run over the left field wall to tie the game, before a Mindy Cowles triple plated Vasquez.

Arizona State added one more run in the top of the seventh - a solo home run by Caylan Carlson - to take a 4-2 lead.

The Bears tried to mount a comeback in the bottom of the seventh when Arioto led off the inning with a single. Two batters later, Leomiti singled allowing Arioto to advance to second with one out. Burkhart again came up big for ASU, inducing a pop up and strikeout to end the game.

Drewrey suffered the loss for the Bears to fall to 19-6 in the circle. She allowed all four runs and struck out five.