May 12, 2011
Final Stats
TUCSON, Ariz. - The postseason is still a week away but the Thursday evening match between No. 5/6 California and No. 10 Arizona had all the makings of a Women's College World Series game - extra innings, intense rivalry, incredibly talented student-athletes and more. In the end, however, it the Wildcats came away with the 2-1 win, scoring the gamewinner in the bottom of the 10th.
The Golden Bears struck in the top of the third, when Lindsey Ziegenhirt tallied a sacrifice lineout with the bases loaded and one out to score Jamia Reid. A walk in the bottom of the seventh proved costly for the Bears, when Lini Koria came home off a Bailie Kirker single to force extra innings.
The two teams traded baserunners and then runners stranded until the bottom of the 10th. Stacie Chambers singled through the right side and scored from second on a single to left by Ashlee Brawley.
With the series-opening win, UA moves to 40-14 and 11-8 in the Pac-10 while Cal drops to 37-10, 13-6 in the Pac-10.
Kenzie Fowler emerged the victor in the clear pitcher's duel while Jolene Henderson suffered the loss. Henderson fanned 11 Wildcats in 9.2 innings of work.
Britt Vonk paced the Bears with three terrific hits with Ziegenhirt accounting for Cal's sole RBI. Combined, the two teams left 25 runners on base with Arizona tallying a game-high 13.
Cal had its top of the line-up to start the top of the third, when Jamia Reid notched a lead-off single, beating the throw to first. Britt Vonk slapped it up the middle, with the ball bouncing off the shortshop's glove to give the Bears runners at first and second with no outs. Jace Williams went from a 3-0 count to a full count to a walk to load the bases. Lindsey Ziegenhirt lined out to left, but Jamia Reid tagged up and scored.
Down 1-0 in the bottom of the seventh, Koria walked on a 3-1 count and then moved to second on a Kemp ground out. Kirker had a base hit to right field, allowing Koria to come home and knot the score at 1-1.
Chambers singled to start the 10th and went to second courtesy a Kristen Arriola sacrifice bunt. With two outs and runners at first and second, Brawley singled to left, scoring Chambers.
The series continues Friday at 7 p.m. at Hildenbrand Stadium in the high desert.
