April 2, 2010
Final Stats
STANFORD, Calif. - The No. 14 California softball team gave up three runs to No. 11/9 Stanford in the bottom of the fifth en route to a 5-1 loss to the Cardinal on Friday evening at Smith Family Field. The Cardinal (27-4 overall, 2-0 in the Pac-10) now holds a two-game lead over the Golden Bears (26-8, 0-2 Pac-10) in this weekend's three-stand rivalry match. The final game of the series occurs on Saturday with the first pitch set to cross the dish at 1 p.m.
The top of the second began on a high note for the Cardinal with catcher Rosey Neill earning a five-pitch walk. Neill was quickly replaced by Jaquilyn Edwards at first and she advanced to second when first baseman Melisa Koutz on a sacrifice ground out. With one away, centerfielder Sarah Hassman had a full-count walk to put runners at first and second. Alissa Haber then took the fourth pitch of her at bat for a double to right center, plating Edwards and Hassman to give the Cardinal a 2-0 lead.
That fueled the Bears' fire, they scored in the top of the third. Taylor Kelly walked and Jamia Reid reached on a fielder's choice to shortstop, placing runners at first and second with one out. With a 1-0 count, senior shortstop Shannon Thomas singled to center, plating Kelly, to bring the score to 2-1 in favor of Stanford.
With Reid at third, Thomas stole second while Valerie Arioto was in the batter's box. Arioto swung and made contact on the fifth pitch, but the Stanford third baseman threw home, getting Reid out at the plate. Thomas and Arioto would end up stranded after freshman catcher Lindsey Ziegenhirt grounded out to short to end the inning.
With Stanford still holding the 2-1 lead, Hassman had a bunt single to lead off the bottom of the fifth. With two outs after a strikeout looking and a fly out by the Cardinal, Hassman stole second, putting her into perfect scoring position when shortstop Jenna Rich doubled to right, bringing Stanford's lead to 3-1.
Third baseman Shannon Koplitz then doubled to left center to score Rich and increase the Cardinal's advantage to 4-1. Arioto then replaced freshman hurler Jolene Henderson and threw a wild pitch to advance Koplitz to third. A fielding error at short permitted rightfielder Maya Burns to reach base and for Koplitz to score the unearned run. Stanford now held a 5-1 advantage.
Cal tallied a hit in the sixth - an Arioto single down the right field line - and one in the seventh - a bunt single by Jamia Reid - but they could not move runners around to make a dent in the Cardinal lead and Stanford ended the game with the 5-1 victory.
The final game of the series occurs Saturday at Smith Family Field.
