April 15, 2011
Final Stats
BERKELEY - A year after being swept in Eugene by the Ducks, the No. 13 California softball team was the one issuing a loss. The Golden Bears jumped to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first and did not look back, downing the No. 17 Ducks, 5-0, on Friday afternoon at Levine-Fricke Field.
With the win, Cal improves to 26-8 overall and 3-4 in the Pac-10 Conference while Oregon drops to 31-8 and 2-5 in the Pac-10.
Sophomore hurler Jolene Henderson went the distance, handing down a looking strikeout to Alexa Peterson to end the game and improve to 24-5. She struck out seven Ducks.
For the Bears, Jace Williams led the way with two RBI while Jamia Reid had a game-high three hits.
Oregon starter Jessica Moore lasted three innings before being pulled in the bottom of the fourth after giving up back-to-back singles. In her three innings of work, Moore allowed three earned runs on six hits and two walks, striking out two. With the loss, she drops to 15-5 overall.
Moore's replacement - Brittany Rumfelt - did not fare much better though she did not give up any runs, she allowed two hits and walked four. Two of those walks came at the start of the sixth, forcing a pitching change with Samantha Skillingstad coming in to pitch.
With two hits - one from Jamia Reid and another from Jace Williams - in the bottom of the third, Cal lept to a 2-0 lead.
Lindsey Ziegenhirt made it 3-0 to lead off the bottom of the fourth with a solo shot to center. Working extremely well with two outs still in the fourth, the Bears tacked on two more runs. At the close of the fourth, the Bears totals read three runs off four hits and one Oregon error.
Besides Henderson, Jace Williams was the clear winner of defensive MVP, making two key grabs for two assists at the hot corner to keep the Ducks at bay.
Bottom 1 - Oregon 0, Cal 2:
The Bears got things started with two runs in the bottom of the first. Jamia Reid singled to left and Britt Vonk waited out a walk. The two made their ways to third and second, respectively, by the middle of Jace William's at bat. Williams singled to right, plating Reid. Britt came home thanks to an RBI ground out to second by Ashley Decker.
Bottom 4 - Oregon 0, Cal 5:
With a 2-0 count to start the bottom of the fourth, Ziegenhirt went deep - at least 230 feet to center - for her fourth homer of the year. Robben singled down the right-field line and moved to second with LaRisa "LaLa" Jones laid down a bunt single that turn into a grounder that the Ducks could not field in time.
With runners at first and second, Oregon made a pitching change, bringing in Brittany Rumfelt for Moore. Jamia Reid laid down a bunt within inches of home plate for the sacrifice, moving Robben to third and Jones to second. Jace Williams hit the ball at shortstop Kelsey Chambers, but Chambers bobbled it, allowing Robben to score and Williams to reach on what would have been the third out.
With still two away, Frani Echavarria hit the first pitch to the left side, plating Jones to make it 5-0. Victoria Jones hit the ball back to Rumfelt in the circle, where she was able to gather it up and throw to first to get the long-awaited final out of the fourth.
What's Next:
The Ducks return to Bear Territory for a 1 p.m. match-up on Saturday. Remember, all youth (grades 12 and younger) as well as Cal students get in free to all Cal softball games. Following the game, everyone is invited to get autographs from all of the Bears.
The series continues Sunday with first pitch slated for noon. Sunday is also Albany Berkeley Girls Softball League day. After the game, kids can run the bases and get post-game autographs.
