May 8, 2011
Final Stats
CORVALLIS, Ore. -It took eight innings in two hours and 23 minutes, but the No. 7/8 California softball team pulled out a 4-0 win over Oregon State on Sunday afternoon. Jace Williams hit the game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the eighth and Ashley Decker upped it to 4-0 with a double to power the Golden Bears to the series sweep.
With its eighth straight win and second Pac-10 series sweep in hand, Cal jumps to 36-9 overall and 13-5 in the Pac-10 while OSU now stands at 18-24 and 1-15 in the Pac-10.
The Bear outhit the Beavers, 7-3, with Jamia Reid, Britt Vonk, Jace Williams, Lindsey Ziegenhirt, Frani Echavarria, Ashley Decker and Victoria Jones all contributing on each.
"We couldn't string hits together until the eighth inning," Williams said. "We played flawless defense all weekend, and Jolene threw three shutouts! Defense and pitching wins championships so now we need to reawaken our bats and get ready for Arizona next weekend."
Despite battling a nasty case of stomach flu, Jolene Henderson powered through to pitch the complete-game shutout. Henderson pitched all 21 innings versus the Beavers this weekend, all of which were scoreless.
"To be honest, today was kind of a blur," Henderson said. "My team really picked me up. They stayed strong and didn't give up through all eight. We came in knowing what we had to do, and did it."
Tina Andreana took the eight-inning loss, allowing three earned runs off seven hits.
"Our offense was pretty lackluster throughout the game today," Williams said. "Their pitcher was hitting all quadrants of the plate pretty consistently, and was using her change-up to keep our slappers and hitters honest. Their third baseman and shortstop had a great weekend and defend out short game flawlessly."
In the top of the eighth, the Bears started the inning with the top of their line-up with Jamia Reid leading off, and reaching with a shot through second that was ruled an error.
"Jamia won a great battle at the plate and led us off with a hit," Williams said. "She hit a slow, two-bounce chopped to the second baseman, who flubbed it but I think Jamia was going to be safe anyway."
Britt Vonk sacrificed her to second with a 5-4 groundout, and Reid put herself one step closer to home by stealing third.
"Britt did her job and sac bunted her over to second," Williams said. "Jamia caught the catcher sleeping and did a great delay steal to third."
Jace Williams singled her in, breaking open the game-long stalemate and putting Cal up, 1-0.
"With one out, I knew I just had to get it out of the infield," Williams said of her final at-bat. "Their pitcher had been jamming me all day with curveballs so I took a half step off the plate and hit a single into shallow left!"
Lindsey Ziegenhirt gave the Bears runners at first and second with a hit to center and was replaced at first by LaRisa Jones. Frani Echavarria walked, loading the bases with still one away for Ashley Decker. Decker doubled down the right-field line, scoring Williams and Jones. Echavarria went to third and then came home on a throwing error, giving the Bears a 4-0 lead.
"Their defense was playing me up, and I found the confidence to place the ball into the outfield," Decker said of her double. "It was a long game, but we were finally able to put our hits together at the right time."
Facing a four-run deficit in the bottom of the eighth, the Beavers got a runner only as far as second before the inning and game came to an end.
Next Week on the Diamond:
Cal closes the 2011 regular and Pac-10 Conference season with a three-game stand at national runner-up Arizona. Things get started a day early with a 7 p.m. first pitch on Thursday, May 12. The series continues Friday, May 13 at 7 p.m. before concluding Saturday, May 14 at noon. Last year, the Wildcats earned the series victory despite Cal winning, 8-0, in the final game.
