Feb. 18, 2009

Box Score

BERKELEY - Valerie Arioto was spectacular at the plate and in the circle in Cal's 11-0 win (in five innings) over Santa Clara in the home opener at Levine-Fricke Field on Wednesday. The sophomore blasted a grand slam in the second inning and pitched her first shutout of the season and striking out nine in the process.

Cal (8-1) takes its No. 9 ranking to Palm Springs for the Cathedral City Classic, Feb. 20-22. The Bears face Ole Miss and North Carolina State on Friday.

The Bears have now outscored their opponents this season 76-16, including three shutouts.

"It always feels good to go out there and help the team anyway I can," said Arioto. "I just jumped on the right pitch [referring to the grand slam]. I hope I can continue to improve at the plate against some tough competition this weekend. Pitching wise I had a few different things working and I was able to keep their hitters off-balance today."

Arioto, who has 25 strikeouts in her last 12 innings pitched, also went 2-for-3 from the dish with two runs and six RBI.

Gina Leomiti had a triple and two RBI, while Shannon Thomas collected two hits and a run. Frani Echavarria, Taylor Kelly and Elia Reid all had two runs as well.

After a scoreless first inning, Cal got things going in the second and took a 5-0 lead on the Broncos. With the bases loaded after an Echavarria single, Kelly drew a walk allowing Vernae Sevilla (who led off the inning with a walk) to score. After Elia Reid reached on a fielder's choice (Sanoe Kekahuna out at the plate), Arioto stepped up and delivered the grand slam over the left-center field wall.

The Bears then took advantage of a pair of miscues by Santa Clara in the third to score six more runs and build an 11-0 lead. With Echavarria and Kekahuna on base after being hit by pitches, Kelly then reached on an error, followed by Elia Reid reaching on an error, allowing for Echavarria to score. Arioto delivered once again with a single to center field to plate Reid and Kelly. Later in the inning, Leomiti smoked a triple to right field to score Thomas and Arioto.

Cal is 72-0 all-time against Santa Clara.