Feb. 12, 2011

Final Stats

TEMPE, Ariz. - Despite scoring an incredible four runs in the top of the sixth to claw back within one, Texas Tech's five runs in the fifth were too much to handle, and the California softball team fell, 5-4, to the Red Raiders on Saturday evening. After dropping multiple runs in the first inning in their first two games, the Golden Bears (2-1 overall) were silenced by the Red Raiders (3-0) until the sixth.

All four of Cal's runs were unearned with Texas Tech committing two errors in the sixth. Jolene Henderson had the complete-game loss, dropping her to 2-1 overall on the young season. Freshman shortstop Britt Vonk led the Bears with two hits.

Until the bottom of the fifth, only one runner for either side made it as far as third. To begin the bottom half of the fifth, catcher Holley Gentsch singled to left, and Meredith Health pinch ran for her. Right fielder Ashley Hamada laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Health to second and she later moved to third on a passed ball.

Having Health in scoring position proved key for the Red Raiders for the next batter - center fielder Mikey Kenney - singled up the middle to plate Health for the first run of the game. Left fielder Stephanie Drewry singled to left center, putting runners at first and second with only one out. Third baseman Emily Bledsoe earned a walk to juice the bases for Cydney Allen, who singled to drive in Kenney and Drewry while Allen advanced to second on the throw.

With Texas Tech up, 3-0, Jordan Palmer came in as a pinch runner for Allen then second baseman Logan Hall reached on an error in center and advanced to second while Palmer and Bledsoe scored. Those two Red Raiders were the fourth and fifth of the game and the final to cross home plate for Texas Tech, doing irreparable damage.

Inspired going down five runs in the fifth, the California offense sprung to life. In the leadoff spot for the inning, Britt Vonk walked, but came off shortly thereafter when Frani Echavarria reached on a fielder's choice with a hit right back to the pitcher. Jace Williams then singled up the middle, giving the Bears runners at the corners. LaRisa Jones came in as a runner for Williams and then Lindsey Ziegenhirt walked and was replaced by Alex Robben at first with the bases loaded.

Jordan Wallace strode to the plate with one away and bases juiced and hit a hard ground to the circle. The throw to the plate was in the dirt and LaRisa Jones and Echavarria scored with both runs earned. Wallace hung tight at second and Robben at first while Elia Reid grounded out to third. Henderson singled to left field and advanced to second, scoring Robben and Wallace came around to score as well on an error at first.

With four runs crossed, Brokeshoulder then relieved Talley and Diane Leider pinch ran for Henderson. Ashley Deck immediately had a bunt single, advanding Leider to third. Jamia Reid lined out to short to end the four run, three hit inning that saw Texas Tech commit two errors and allow four unearned runs.

Texas Tech looked to tack on some insurance rungs in the bottom of the sixth, getting hits from Hamada and Drewry but they were left stranded.

In the top of the seventh, Vonk had a lead-off single, but accounted for the second out, getting thrown out at first to right, after Echavarria lined out to right. Williams grounded out to second for the final out of the game.

The Bears look to end their weekend jaunt to the desert with a win on Sunday morning against Indiana.