April 1, 2011
Final Stats
BERKELEY - A perfectly pleasant and sunny Friday in Strawberry Canyon took a turn for the worse in the top of the sixth inning, when No. 4 Arizona State plated three Sun Devils to take a 3-1 lead over No. 8 California. Despite scoring first, three runs by ASU were too much for Cal to recoup and the Golden Bears lost, 3-1.
Classic offense earned the Bears a run in the third and one for the Sun Devils in the sixth. With two away in the same inning, a Cal error allowed two more ASU runs to cross. After the home-opening and Pac-10 Conference starter, the Sun Devils now stand at 34-2 while Cal drops to 21-4.
Dallas Escobedo pitched two innings of scoreless play, issuing five straight strikeouts before the Bears opened up in the third with three consecutive hits from Ashley Decker, Britt Vonk and Jace Williams. Williams' single over shortstop Katelyn Boyd's head plated Decker for the first run of the game.
ASU threatened in the top of the first with the bases loaded but Cal starter Arianna Erceg got a looking strikeout to get out of that jam. In the top of fifth, Lesley Rogers hit a double and looked to come home score when Krista Donnenwirth connected but Frani Echavarria saved the inning with a diving catch.
In the top of the sixth, Arizona State got two-out hits from Kaylyn Castillo, Mandy Urfer and Talor Haro with Haro's single to left plating Castillo. Katelyn Boyd hit the ball to Britt Vonk at short but the throw was in the dirt, allowing Urfer and Haro to come around for the Sun Devils to pull ahead at 3-1.
Erceg pitched three scoreless innings with four hits before Jolene Henderson entered the game with the Bears holding a 1-0 lead. Henderson (19-4) suffered the loss after giving up one earned run and four hits while Escobedo fanned 10 all together to move her to 16-1.
The Sun Devils outhit the Bears, 8-5, with Decker and Williams each getting two hits.
Top 1 - ASU 0, Cal 0:
Lockwood loaded the bases with two away for Johnson, who watched a third strike whizz back for the final out of the inning.
Top 2 - ASU 0, Cal 0:
Catcher Kaylyn Castillo singled through the left side and moved to first when first baseman Mandy Urfer chopped the ball to second for a single. Ketchum, who ran for Castillo, and Wigness, who pinch ran for Urfer moved to third and second, respectively when left fielder Talor Haro laid down a sac bunt that Jace Williams expertly handled.
The runners froze on the next hit, which looked to be a sure to be a two RBI single by Katelyn Boyd, but Ashley Decker snagged the dropping liner. Excellent defense held the Sun Devils in the next bat, when Lesley Rogers hit a powerful shot that Victoria Jones ate up for a groundout.
Bottom 2 - ASU 0, Cal 0:
Dallas Escobedo struck out the Cal side, sending Frani Echavarria, Jordan Wallace and Victoria Jones down in order.
Bottom 3 - ASU 0, Cal 1:
After Escobedo had struck out five Bears in a row, Ashley Decker registered Cal's first hit of the game with a well placed ground ball up the middle. Britt Vonk followed it up with a sailing hit to right. With two outs and Decker at second and Vonk at first, Williams singled to right, scoring Decker. Following the three hits, Escobedo returned to her form by striking out Lindsey Ziegenhirt to end the inning.
Top 4 - ASU 0, Cal 1:
For Henderson's first two batters - Castillo and Urfer - Williams had Henderson's back making one typical play at third for the first out. For the second, she reached across her body to grab a grounder on the line from Urfer and throw it across the diamond for the second out. Henderson handled a comebacker to end the inning.
Top 5 - ASU 0, Cal 1:
Rogers had a one-out double to the wall in center field for the Sun Devils first baserunner of the fifth. After two pitches that left Parlich jello-legged and stationary, Henderson got her to swing on the third pitch of the at bat for a K. Things looked promising for Arizona State when Donnenwirth sent the ball flying into left-center field. However, it turned out to be beyond promising for the Bears with Frani Echavarria making a diving catch for her right for the third out of the inning.
Top 6 - ASU 3, Cal 1:
After sending a long foul ball down the left-field line followed by one down the right-field line, Castillo got a two-out single to right field on a full count for the first baserunner of the inning. Urfer moved her to second when she singled to the corner in left. Haro singled to left to plate Castillo, who did some aggressive baserunning and just missed the tag at home. With two outs and Urfer at third and Haro at second, Boyd hit to Vonk at short and the throw to Wallace was off, allowing both Urfer and Haro to come home. Rogers grounded out to Jones at second for the long-awaited third out.
Bottom 6 - ASU 3, Cal 1:
Jace Williams had a terrific lead-off hit with a solid connection to left. Frani Echavarria nearly plated her when she golfed the ball just foul in left before grounding into a fielder's choice with Williams out on the 4-3. With two outs, Wallace sent the ball high and to the track, where center fielder Lesley Rogers was waiting for the final out.
Bottom 7 - ASU 3, Cal 1:
Victoria Jones fouled off several pitches before flying out to Rogers in right center. After battling to a six-pitch full count, Robben flied out to Parlich at second. Elia Ried flied out to end the game.
