April 30, 2011
Final Stats
BERKELEY - In the bottom of the first, the Golden Bears scored as many runs as they did in the entirety of Friday's game, building a 7-0 lead, and they never looked back. Along with two runs in the bottom of the fourth, the No. 9/10 California softball team issued a 9-1 run-rule decision to No. 11/8 UCLA on Saturday afternoon under bright sun and spot on spring weather at Levine-Fricke Field.
A grand slam from Elia Reid in the top of the first upped Cal's lead to 7-0 and a two-run single from Jace Williams in the fourth accounted for the Bears' other two scores. The Bruins scored once in the fourth but it was not nearly enough.
With the win, the Bears improve to 34-9 overall and 9-5 in the best conference in all the land while the Bruins drop to 31-12 and 7-7 in the Pac-10.
Jolene Henderson pitched the five innings for Cal, striking out six and allowing the one earned run. The Bears worked UCLA starter Jessica Hall for five earned runs off three hits and two walks in 0.1 innings while Donna Kerr allowed the other four runs in 3.2 innings.
The Bears got their scoring started with the bases loaded and one out, when Lindsey Ziegenhirt singled to right, scoring Jamia Reid.
Facing a new pitcher in Donna Kerr, Ashley Decker put a single down the left-field line to score Britt Vonk and continue to have the bases juiced. Jordan Wallace took the first pitch to her arm, giving the Bears a 3-0 lead. Batting with two outs, Elia Reid took the first pitch from Kerr for a grand slam, putting Cal up 7-0.
Down by seven runs in the top of the fourth, GiOnna DiSalvatore doubled and then came home to score when Andrea Harrison's grounder went past Jordan Wallace's glove at first. Jolene Henderson got the Bears out of the inning with a bases loaded strikeout to B.B. Bates.
Jace Williams made it 9-1 in favor of her Bears with her fifth and sixth RBI of the weekend, when she singled to center to score Elia and Jamia Reid.
With two outs in the top of the fifth and facing the mercy win, DiSalvatore walked and then Harrison singled to left. Dani Yudin waited out a 3-2 count only to go down swinging.
The Bruins look to avoid the sweep in the series finale Sunday at noon. Sunday will be a great day to bring the kids with free Silly Bandz to the first 50 kids, a poster-creation station, post-game autographs and a chance to run the bases after the game.
