May 3, 2008

Box Score

Eugene, Ore. - Chalk up a fourth straight win for the 22nd-ranked California softball team after its 6-1 victory over the Oregon Ducks on Saturday afternoon at Howe Field.

Cal, who secured its 40th win of the season, has won 40 or more games nine of the last 10 seasons. The Bears also improved to 7-10 in league play.

Freshman Valerie Arioto became the first player since Vicky Galindo in 2005 to score 49 runs (fifth-best in a single-season) after crossing home plate twice today. Kaleo Eldredge (2004) and Pam Reinoehl (1980) are the other two former Bears to score 49 runs in a season. Gillian Boxx holds the single-season program record with 56 runs in 1995. Arioto needs two more runs to tie Lindsay James' 51 runs in 2004 for the fourth-most runs in a season.

For the second straight day, sophomore Bernice Masaniai crushed a three-run home run - her seventh of the season in the top of the first inning which gave the Bears a prompt 3-0 lead. Masaniai also hit a three-run home run at Oregon State on Friday.

Freshman Sanoe Kekahuna extended her hitting streak to five games after leading off the second inning with a double (her 15th of the year). Sophomore Taylor Kelly planted a single to center field later in the inning to score Kekahuna, putting Cal up 4-0.

The Bears pushed two more runs across the board in the top of the fifth inning to take a commanding 6-0 lead. Head coach Diane Ninemire used all three of her pitchers on Saturday, with Arioto getting the bulk of the load - no hits, no runs and four strikeouts in three innings. She earned the win, her eighth of the season. Both Marissa Drewrey and Brittany LaRosa logged two innings, combing to allow just one run on three hits with seven strikeouts.

Cal and Oregon go at it again on Sunday at 12:00 p.m.