May 7, 2011
Box Score
CORVALLIS, Ore. - After run-ruling the Beavers on Friday, the No. 7/8 Golden Bears only needed one run to down OSU, 1-0, on Saturday afternoon. Lindsey Ziegenhirt was California's sole scorer, coming home in the top of the second, courtesy a fielder's choice by Victoria Jones.
Britt Vonk and Jace Williams each had two hits with Lindsey Ziegenhirt and Ashley Decker accounting for the remaining two to bring Cal's total to six. OSU had four hits from four different Beavers. Both teams left five stranded. While offense was not the theme of the game, error-free ball was.
"I thought our defense was flawless today," Victoria Jones said. "We really backed up Jolene on the field. We had a little trouble with our bats. But tomorrow, we look to pick up where we left off."
Jolene Henderson pitched all seven innings, striking out six and walking just one Beaver.
"I felt like I should have done better today but I did well enough and my defense was strong and errorless behind me," Henderson said of her performance in the circle and that of her teammates. "We were getting runners on today. We just need to get them in."
Paige Hall took the loss, allowing the one earned run on six hits and striking out five Bears.
With their seventh consecutive win, Cal ups its overall record to 35-9 and 12-5 in the Pac-10 while OSU now stands at 18-23 and 1-14 in the Pac-10.
In the top of the second, Lindsey Ziegenhirt was the Bears' first baserunner of the game, when she singled down the left-field line. Frani Echavarria got aboard when she was hit. Ziegenhirt and Echavarria moved to third and second, respectively, when Ashley Decker laid down a sacrifice bunt. Jolene Henderson was the second Bear to be hit, loading the bases. Victoria Jones put down an RBI fielder's choice to score Ziegenhirt.
"It was just a simple ground ball to second base for my RBI," Jones said. "I knew all I had to do was put the ball on the ground and with our speed that we would score."
Cal looks to sweep the series with a win in the finale, which begins promptly at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
"I thought we did well today," Decker said. "We had some great defensive plays today. We could have put more hits together. We just need to come back strong tomorrow and get those timely hits."
