April 18, 2010
Final Stats
TEMPE, Ariz. - The No. 16/19 California softball team earned its first Pac-10 Conference series sweep thanks to an 11-3 victory over No. 6 Arizona State on Sunday afternoon. The Golden Bears (33-11 overall, 4-5 in the Pac-10 Conference) got five homers from four Bears - Valerie Arioto (2), Lindsey Ziegenhirt, Taylor Kelly and Vernae Sevilla - to push themselves far beyond the reach of the Sun Devils (35-9, 4-5 in the Pac-10).
After pounding the Sun Devils for three runs in the first in Saturday's game, Cal tallied just one in the opening inning in the Sunday finale. Valerie Arioto notched her third homer of the weekend with a solo shot to right, giving Cal a 1-0 lead.
For the first time in 12 innings of play, ASU showed signs of life and scored in the bottom of the first. Leadoff hitter Lesley Rogers earned a six-pitch walk, advanced to second on a Katelyn Boyd single and moved to third when Kaylyn Castillo grounded out. Rogers scored when Katie Crabb singled to short, evening the teams at 1-1 at the end of the first.
In the bottom of the second, the Sun Devils earned only their second lead of the entire weekend, something they had not had since the bottom of the first on Friday. Boyd singled to right, which plated Lacy Goodman, who had walked.
In the hole, 2-1, Cal only registered one hit in the top of the third - a single by Arioto - but the Bears unleashed their bats in the top of the fourth for six runs off four hits and two ASU errors.
Jace Williams led off singling to short and advanced to second when sophomore Frani Echavarria grounded out to the pitcher. A Taylor Kelly single put Williams at third and Kelly at first with one away. Elia Reid singled to left, plating Williams and moving Kelly to third with the Bears and Sun Devils knotted 2-2.
Jamia Reid then reached on an error by the pitcher, which loaded the bases. ASU hurler Hillary Bach could not catch a break and beaned Shannon Thomas to bring home Kelly, rightfully returning the lead to the Bears, 3-2. With the bases still juiced, Arioto took this opportunity to crank out another homer, this one to left-center, to bring Cal's lead to 7-2.
It took an inning, but ASU earned a home run of its own when Carlson had a solo four-baser into right. That run would be the last for the Sun Devils, who could only come within four, 7-3.
In the top of the seventh, the Bears were not done leaving their mark in the desert. It was then that Ziegenhirt tallied her fourth homer of the weekend to distance the Bears, 8-3. This home run came after she battled through seven pitches, three of which were fouls, to send one into left. Echavarria then got aboard with a single into left and Kelly took her shot and homered to left, bringing the Bears' total to 10-3.
ASU replaced Bach with Megan Elliott in the circle, but it did nothing to quell Cal's uprising. After Elliott issued a ball to Sevilla, she teed off for the third homer of the inning to bring Cal's final total to 11-3.
It looked as if the Sun Devils had half a mind to do something in the bottom of the seventh when Castillo had a leadoff single through the left side. Third baseman Krista Donnenwirth followed up, connecting, but hitting into the fielder's choice with Castillo getting thrown out at second. Arioto then got Carlson and pinch hitter Mandy Urfer on swinging strike outs to end the inning and game.
Arioto came in to relieve starter Jolene Henderson, who gave up the three earned runs. Henderson struck out four in four innings of work. Arioto allowed two hits and fanned two batters - the final two of the game.
Cal will take a brief break from conference play with a mid-week match-up at East Bay rival Saint Mary's on April 21 at 3 p.m. The Bears hold the perfect 45-0 all-time series record, which was extended thanks to their 6-2 win over the Gaels on March 27 at the Aggie Stampede.
The weekend will feature a three-game homestand against No. 1 and defending national champion Washington. Cal hosts the Huskies on April 23 at 3 p.m., April 24 at 1 p.m. and April 25 at noon. Last season, the Bears won the middle game, avoiding the series sweep, but UW one the last game of the series, 11-3 in five-innings on May 9, 2009.
