Feb. 21, 2010
Final Stats
LAS VEGAS - The No. 11/12 California softball team upset its first higher-ranked team this season with a 4-1 victory against No. 9/10 Georgia Tech on Sunday morning. After five innings of scoreless play, junior Valerie Arioto cracked the game out with a three-run homer to put the Golden Bears (7-3) ahead of the Yellow Jackets (8-1).
The Bears did not get a hit until the top of the fourth when Arioto singled to left center.
It was not until the sixth inning when both squads' bats came alive. California's Shannon Thomas got the inning started with a lead-off single through the right side off the first pitch of the inning. Next up, Lindsey Ziegenhirt waited through two strikes and then two balls before singling up the middle.
Jace Williams then reached on a fielder's choice after Ga. Tech got Ziegnehirt out at second. With Thomas now on third and Williams at first, Arioto stepped up to the plate. After two balls and then fouling one off, Arioto teed off with a homer to center field to give the Bears a 3-0 lead.
Successfully denying the Yellow Jacket attack in the bottom of the sixth, the Bears returned to the batter's box to try their hands at scoring again.
With two outs and Thomas at first off a single, Williams earned a seven-pitch walk to move Thomas to second. It was then Arioto's turn to walk to load the bases and bring up Frani Echavarria. The pitcher's second pitch hit Echavarria to give her a free walk to first and score Thomas, distancing the Bears, 4-0.
With a team-high two hits in the bottom of the seventh, Ga. Tech avoided the shutout. The Yellow Jackets began the inning with a walk by Caitlin Jordan, who was replaced by pinch-runner Shannon Bear. Bear went to second on a single to third by Christy Jones and then to third on a fly out by Jen Yee.
Kelsi Weseman singled through the left side to plate Bear and give Georgia Tech its only run of the game. Attempting to further their causing, Hope Rush walked, but Jessica Sinclair popped up to short to end the inning and game.
Thomas and Arioto each had two hits for the Bears with Thomas coming around to score twice and Arioto driving in three runs.
Arioto pitched the complete game, facing just four batters over the minimum and fanning nine batters. Giving up just four walks, Arioto allowed five hits to improve to 3-2 overall.
