Feb. 27, 2010
Final Stats
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. - The No. 14/13 California softball team posted a 5-4 win over San Diego State on Saturday afternoon in its second day at the Palm Springs Classic. Senior Taylor Kelly hit a three-run jack to power the Golden Bears, who move to 9-3 overall with the win, past the Aztecs.
The Bears began their offensive and the bottom of the first with back-to-back singles from Jamia Reid and Shannon Thomas. While Valerie Arioto was in the midst of her 10-pitch at bat, which would result in a looking strike out, Reid and Thomas stole third and second, respectively. Freshman Lindsey Ziegenhirt then singled through the left side and advanced to second on the throw while Reid scored and Thomas reached third. The Bears would end up leaving three batters stranded at the close of the inning, but not without establishing a 1-0 lead.
The Aztecs threatened in the top of the second with a Tanya Holguin single up the middle, but the infield went to work and turned a double play to get out of the half inning unscathed.
Shannon Thomas hit the first pitch of the bottom of the third inning for a single up the middle and then advanced to second on an illegal pitch. Arioto moved Thomas to third when she flied out to right field. Thomas then scored Cal's second run on an illegal pitch for the Bears' sole run of the inning, putting them up 2-0.
Jessica Camello singled to center to begin the top of the fourth, advanced to second on a Monica Alnes ground out and subsequently to third on an illegal pitch. Camello scored the Aztecs' first run of the game and the only of the inning when Justeen Maeva reached on a fielder's choice.
All of Cal's damage in the bottom of fourth came in the first three batters. Jace Williams led off and promptly doubled to left center to bring up Frani Echavarria, who singled to left. Taylor Kelly saw two balls before hammering the third pitch to center for a three-run homer, distancing the Bears, 5-1.
Things looked promising with the Bears sending SDSU down in order in the top of the fifth, but it all changed in the Aztecs' end of the sixth stanza. San Diego State loaded the bases with the first three batters off two walks and a single. Eva Sahatdjian singled to center field to plate Camello and move the runners around. With the bases still juiced, Holguin singled through the left side to bring another Aztec around to score. Maeva, who had reached on a walk, scored the final run of the inning on a throwing error, bringing her squad within one at 5-4.
Cal posted two hits but left one stranded in the bottom of the sixth. After Camello had a lead-off single in the top of the seventh, the Aztecs could not muster any more hits and went down in order to close the game.
The Bears will face off against Oklahoma State later on Saturday.
