May 2, 2008

Box Score

Corvallis, Ore. - Bernice Masaniai and Sanoe Kekahuna belted home runs to help the 22nd-ranked California Golden Bears to a 9-1 road win over the Oregon State Beavers in five innings on Friday evening.

Cal not only improved to 39-20, 6-10 in Pac-10, but also took the season series from the Beavers, winning two of the three games.

The Golden Bear offense notched seven hits, while ace sophomore pitcher Marissa Drewrey locked down the Beavers, scattering six hits and striking out five for her 26th win of the season. She has allowed just eight hits, two runs and two walks over her last 15 innings pitched.

Masaniai's home run brought her RBI total to 40 this season, giving Cal three players with 40 or more RBI - Kekahuna (45), Leomiti (41) and Masaniai (40).

Valerie Arioto, who scored a run in Friday's contest, also drew a walk, bringing her season total to 40, two shy of tying Kaleo Eldridge's walk total of 42 in 2005 - fifth-most in a single-season.

After Cal's seven-run burst in the second inning, the Bears have outscored their opponents, 55-10 in the second inning of games this season. Additionally, Cal is 28-4 when leading after two innings this season.

The Bears clawed their way to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning thanks to a Leomiti two-run double through the right side which plated both Arioto and Erika Racklin.

After Oregon State scored a run in the bottom of the first, Cal put up seven runs in the second inning to take a commanding 9-1 lead. After Vernae Sevilla punched a single up the middle, Kekahuna drilled her eighth home run of the year on a 3-1 count. Later in the inning with Racklin and Shannon Houston on base, Masaniai planted her sixth home run of the season over the left field wall on the very first pitch she saw. Julie Meyer also scored in the inning on a wild pitch.

Cal now travels to Eugene to take on the Oregon Ducks on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. and Sunday at noon.