May 1, 2010
Final Stats
BERKELEY - It was seven innings of scoreless softball between No. 16/13 California and No. 3 Arizona on Saturday afternoon before the Wildcats broke through with a run in the top of the eighth. Not to be outdone, the Golden Bears added one of their own in the bottom end of the eighth with a solo shot from Jace Williams. Arizona plated three in the top of the ninth and Cal just one in the bottom to give the Wildcats the 4-2 Pac-10 Conference game.Both teams had a hit apiece in the first with the shortstop K'Lee Arredondo singled into shallow right field and sophomore left fielder Jamia Reid slapping to short. Jamia Reid singled in Cal's half of the first, but was left stranded as well.
In the top of the second, Arioto was responsible for all three outs with two swinging strikeouts and fielding a grounded from first baseman Baillie Kirker to close the inning.
Third baseman Jace Williams earned a five-pitch walk to start the bottom of the second and moved to second when sophomore center fielder Frani Echavarria had a first-pitch single up the middle. Taylor Kelly tried to move her over with a bunt, but her hit went directly to Fowler in the circle, and she threw to Brigette Del Ponte at third to get the lead runner in Williams with Kelly reaching on a fielder's choice. Elia Reid grounded out to end the inning.
After Fowler got Jamia Ried looking to start the bottom of the third, Thomas earned a walk. Arioto popped up and Ziegenhirt struck out swinging to leave Thomas stranded.
In the bottom of the fourth, Williams walked and then stole second though she would have moved there anyways after Kelly walked. Henderson moved them both over a base with a groundout to short. With two away, Elia Reid swung at an upstairs pitch for the final out of the bottom of the fourth.
After getting the first two Wildcats of the fifth on swinging Ks, Arioto walked second baseman Kristen Arriola. Henderson fielded a dribbler from right fielder Karissa Buchanan to get the 3U and end the half inning.
With two away in the bottom of the fifth, Arioto hit a screamer of a ground ball that went through the legs of shortstop Arredondo and well into left-center field for a single. She moved to second when Ziegenhirt waded her way to a full-count walk. Fowler got a called third strike on Williams, leaving the two Bears stranded.
Center fielder Lauren Schutzler got aboard with a one-out single up the middle that neither Arioto or Thomas could get to in the top of the sixth. Williams made a diving catch on a liner hit to the hot corner by Arredondo and Henderson stayed with a grounded to get the unassisted out over catcher Stacie Chambers to keep the score at 0-0.
For the first inning in the game, it was three up, three down for the Bears in the bottom of the sixth.
To begin the seventh, Del Ponte barely beat the throw from Kelly at short for a leadoff hit. Koria tried to bunt Del Ponte to second, but it went awry as Arioto fielded it and threw it to Kelly covering at second to get Del Ponte out while Koria reached on a fielder's choice.
Kirker successfully laid down a sac bunt, advancing Koria to second while Arioto and Thomas teamed for the 1-4 out. A ball that Ziegenhirt just could not get hold of moved Koria to third. It was of no avail for Arioto got Arriola swinging to end the inning.
Jamia Reid registered a single in the seventh but two Bears were left on base, forcing extra innings.
In the top of the eighth, Lastrapes doubled down the right-field line. Schutzler looked to be out on a 4-3 ground out, but Henderson bobbled the ball and Schutzler was safe while Lastrapes moved to third with one away.
Arredondo hit a slow, one-bounce grounder to Thomas at second and Thomas threw it home to Ziegenhirt, who could not apply the tag in time to Lastrapes, who slid around the tag. Ziegenhirt then threw to Williams, who turned it to Kelly at second, who tagged out Schutzler who was trying to advance to second. All the while, Arredondo reached first on a fielder's choice.
With Lastrapes safe and the Wildcats leading, 1-0, Arredondo advanced to second on a wild pitch. Chambers walked and Del Ponte singled up the middle to load the bases with two away in the top of the eighth with Arizona holding the 1-0 lead. All three Wildcats were stranded after Arioto struck out Del Ponte swinging.
With a 2-2 count to lead off the bottom of the eighth, Williams homered down the right-field line, just shy of the foul post to make it 1-1 all. The home run was Williams first in a Golden Bear uniform. Fowler got Echavarria swinging and Kelly looking to five the 'Cats two away before Henderson grounded out to Fowler.
With the two teams tied, 1-1, at the top of the ninth, Kirker had a four-pitch walk to start the ninth and was replaced by Rebecca Tikey as a pinch runner. Arriola singled into left to put runners at first and second with no outs. Buchanan laid down a sacrifice bunt that went to Arioto, who turned it to Thomas at first to get the out with Tikey and Arriola moving to third and second, respectively. Lastrapes had a 2-1 count when Arioto decided to intentionally walk her, bringing up Schutzler with one out and the based juiced.
Schutzler hit a grounder to Thomas, who could not get a hold on the ball and all runners were safe, including Tikey at home, making it 2-1, Arizona. Arioto walked Arredondo on four pitches, plating Arriola. At that point, the Bears made a pitching change, bringing in Henderson for Arioto.
Chambers hit a fly ball to left field, which Jamia Reid caught, but Lastrapes tagged up and came home to score, giving the Wildcats a 4-1 lead. Henderson struck out Del Ponte to get out of the inning.
Elia Reid led off in the bottom of the ninth, and singled to Del Ponte at third. Del Ponte made a nice catch, but Elia Reid was too fast and she was aboard with a hit. Jamia Reid moved her twin sister over when she grounded out, 5-3. After two foul balls on a full count, Thomas flied out to center.
Arioto took the fourth pitch of her at bat for a single that hit the wall in left-field, plating Reid. Ziegenhirt then grounded to Arredondo at short, who flipped it to Arriola at second to get the advancing Arioto and solidify Arizona's 4-2 win.
The two teams meet in the finale on Sunday at noon. Following the game, fans can get autographs from the Bears.
