Feb. 25, 2011

Final Stats

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. - After almost nine complete innings of play, it came down to a single pitch. A wild pitch that is. The No. 14 California softball team earned a 4-3 win over Indiana when an errant throw from Hoosier pitcher Morgan Melloh allowed Frani Echavarria to score the run in the bottom of the ninth. Both the Bears (6-1) and the Hoosiers (6-7) scored once in the second inning with the 1-1 stalemate lasting until the top of the eighth. Two unearned runs crossed the plate for Indiana, giving them a 3-1 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth.

Cal kept the game going in the eighth, taking on two runs with some aggressive baserunning and a fielder's choice by Britt Vonk. In the bottom of the ninth, the Bears threatened again with Echavarria on third when Melloh hurled her second wild pitch of the game, allowing Echavarria to come home and end the game with a win for Cal.

Henderson earned the win, pitching 7.2 innings allowing just one hit and striking out 11. In 1.1 innings, Bear starter Arianna Erceg gave up just one earned run off one hit. Vonk and Henderson tallied Cal's two RBI while Lindsey Ziegenhirt paced the Bears with three hits.

Top 2 - Indiana 1, Cal 0

Sara Olson earned a walk off of Erceg and advanced to second when Erceg beaned Samantha Berenter. Meaghan Murphy loaded the bases with a single through the right side and Kelsey Stander walked to plate Olson. At that point, Henderson replaced Erceg and helped the Bears get out of rest of the inning unscathed.

Bottom 2 - Indiana 1, Cal 1

The Bears returned the favor with a run in their half of the second. Lindsey Ziegenhirt led off with a single to left. Melloh got Jordan Wallace and Frani Echavarria to go down swinging with Ziegenhirt advancing to second on a wild pitch. Jolene Henderson drove in her long-time teammate with a single through the right side.

Top 8 - Indiana 3, Cal 1

With Heyman placed on second in accordance with the tiebreaker rules, Saucedo led off and reached on a fielding error at short, which also allowed Heyman to move to third. Ashley Warrum stepped in to pinch hit for Abraham and hit the ball to Jace Williams at third. Williams looked Heyman back at third to prevent the run but her throw to Jordan Wallace at first was dropped and Heyman headed home for the score.

In the next at bat, Olson lined out to Victoria Jones, who made a spectacular diving play at second. Saucedo tagged up at third and scored, narrowly beating the throw home. Henderson got Wagner to strike out to end the inning.

Bottom 8 - Indiana 3, Cal 3

Elia Reid stood at second while her sister, Jamia Reid, stood in the batter's box to start the bottom of the eighth. Jamia Reid singled to second, beating out the throw from second, advancing Elia to third. During Britt Vonk's at bat, Jamia Reid stole second, safely beating the throw down while Elia Reid came home to score. Vonk reached on a fielder's choice when the first baseman failed to make the play, scoring Jamia Reid. Though Williams and Wallace reached, they did not score when Melloh snagged Echavarria's hit up the middle to end the inning.

Bottom 9 - Indiana 3, Cal 4

Echavarria went to second and Henderson was up to bat. Henderson laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Echavarria to third. A pitch issued to Elia Reid went all sorts of wild, opening the door home for Echavarria, who won the game for the Bears.

Next Up

Cal immediately returns to action with an afternoon tilt against UMass. Saturday will see just one game, but an important one: No. 14 Cal plays No. 20 LSU at 3 p.m. The Bears close the weekend versus Cal Poly at 1 p.m. on Sunday.