May 16, 2009

Final Stats

NCAA Regional Coverage: Tallahassee Regional Website

TALLAHASSE, FLA. - No. 14/16 California (37-18) advanced to the NCAA Softball Tallahassee Regional final with a 2-0 victory over Oklahoma State in a winners bracket game Saturday at JoAnne Graff Field on the campus of Florida State University. The same two teams will meet again in Sunday's final (10 a.m., PT) after the Cowgirls knocked off host and top-seeded Florida State, 1-0 in 12 innings, to earn a spot opposite the Golden Bears in the championship game. Cal will move on to an NCAA Super Regional with one victory on Sunday, while Oklahoma State must beat the Bears twice to advance.

A two-run first inning gave Golden Bears starter and winning pitcher Marissa Drewrey all the run support the she would need. Drewrey (23-10) carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning and finished with a complete-game two-hit shutout, striking out seven and walking none.

"Marissa was pitching so well today," said Cal head coach Diane Ninemire. "She was keeping their batters off-balance and completely in control of the game."

Cal took control of the contest in its two-run top of the first. Jamia Reid opened the game with a single, stole second and moved to third on a single by Shannon Thomas. The Bears loaded the bases when Thomas stole second and Valerie Arioto drew a walk. Gina Leomiti drew a walk to force in the first run of the game before the Cowgirls could record an out and two batters later Taylor Kelly drew another bases loaded walk to force in the second run.

"We talked yesterday about trying to come out today and really set the tone that we were here to play," said Ninemire. "I was really pleased that we were able to load the bases in the first inning and create that opportunity."

"It feels good when you go out there and you know you have a couple of runs behind you," added Drewrey. "But you still want to do the same thing and act like it's a 0-0 ballgame."

Drewrey pitched like the contest was scoreless as she made quick work of Oklahoma State by retiring the first nine hitters she faced.

Mariah Gearhart became Oklahoma State's first base runner of the game when she was hit by Drewrey to lead off the bottom of the fourth. But Gearhart was quickly erased from the base paths when she was doubled off first base by Frani Echavarria on Katelyn Bright's shallow fly ball to the Bears centerfielder.

Drewrey faced the minimum number of Oklahoma State batters through the first five innings before losing her bid for a second career no-hitter on Taylor Marcum's clean single to open the Cowgirls sixth. Chelsea Garcia moved pinch-runner Heather Kim to second with a sacrifice bunt, but Drewrey struck out Kelsey Anchors and Gearhart to get out of the jam.

"I tried not to think about it [the no-hitter] all game and no one said anything because they didn't want to jinx me," admitted Drewrey. "Once it was broken up, I just kept the same positive attitude and tried to keep hitting my spots."

Alysia Hamilton's one-out single in the bottom of the seventh did bring the tying run to the plate again for Oklahoma State, but Drewrey forced Sam Heinlein into a fielder's choice and retired Megan Castle on a groundout to end the game.

"Marissa understands that winning the game is way more important than a no-hitter," offered Ninemire when asked how Drewrey was able to keep her composure after having her no-hitter broken up.

Cal had several chances to blow the contest open early, leaving eight runners on base through the first four innings and 10 for the game. The Golden Bears left the bases full in the first and fourth frames. Cal also had the bases loaded with one out in the third, but ended up not scoring when Sanoe Kekahuna grounded into an inning-ending 5-2-3 double play. Kekahuna was hit in the back by Heinlein's throw from behind the plate on the tail end of the double play but was called out on interference for running inside the baseline.

The Golden Bears fourth inning rally was thwarted by Oklahoma State reliever Anna Whiddon, who came on in relief of Cowgirl starter and losing pitcher Sarah Odom (13-6) with two outs and the bases loaded in the fourth and was able to induce Leomiti into an inning-ending groundout.

Whiddon pitched 3.1 innings of one-hit shutout relief to keep Oklahoma State in the contest, striking out four and walking one.

Reid (2-4, SB) was the only player for either team with more than one hit and recorded her 47th stolen base of the season.