Feb. 27, 2009

Box Score

Fullerton, Calif. - The ninth-ranked Cal softball team bounced back from a 4-1 loss to Auburn with a 2-1 win over CS Fullerton in the opening day of the DeMarini Tournament hosted by the Titans on Friday night. The win helped Cal improve to 12-3 on the season.

Valerie Arioto was effective in the circle notching 11 strikeouts, while allowing just two hits and one walk. The sophomore product of Pleasanton improved to 4-0 this season with a 0.75 ERA.

Freshman Jamia Reid went a perfect 4-for-4 at the dish with two stolen bases to raise her total to a perfect 14-for-14. Shannon Thomas collected two hits as well in the victory.

Cal unlocked a scoreless tie in the top of the fourth inning when Sanoe Kekahuna issued a leadoff walk. She then advanced to second after Frani Echavarria grounded out to the second baseman. Elia Reid then tapped an infield single an 0-2 pitch to plate Kekahuna, giving the Bears the 1-0 lead.

Fullerton responded in the bottom half of the fourth to tie the game at 1-1 on a sacrifice fly.

Cal broke the tie in the top of the sixth inning when Echavarria led off the inning with a single and quickly moved to second on a Taylor Kelly sacrifice bunt. Echavarria then rounded third and scored after a throwing error by first baseman K.C. Craddick.

Arioto then shut the door on the Titans in the bottom of the sixth with two strikeouts and a groundout. She then silenced the CSF bats in the seventh inning inducing a pop up, ground out and strikeout.

The Bears take on Nevada on Saturday at 3:45 p.m.