May 12, 2012
Final Stats
Score: No. 2 Arizona State 5, No. 1 Cal 0
Site: Levine-Fricke Field - Berkeley, Calif.
Records: ASU 46-7, 18-14 Pac-12; Cal 50-4, 21-3 Pac-12
Top Cal Performers: Jamia Reid (2 H); Breana Kostreba (1 2B); Lindsey Ziegenhirt (1 H); Frani Echavarria (1 H)
Next Game: NCAA Regionals - TBA
BERKELEY - The No. 1 California softball team dropped the final Pac-12 game of the year 5-0 to Arizona State on Saturday afternoon though the Golden Bears had already won the inaugural Pac-12 title the day before.
A program-record crowd of 1,135 fans filled Levine-Fricke Field on a gorgeously sunny day in Strawberry Canyon for the regular-season finale. The Golden Bears end the regular season at 50-4 overall. This is the sixth time in program history that Cal has hit the 50-win mark. The school record for wins in a season is 56, which was set in 2002, when the Bears won the first-ever NCAA Title.
Deuces was the magical word for the Sun Devils for they scored two runs with two outs in the top of the second to take a 2-0 lead. ASU tacked on three runs in the top of the seventh on five hits and one Cal error.
The Bears did a great job of battling in the bottom of the seventh with two outs - for Frani Echavarria singled up the middle and Jamia Reid laid down a bunt single - but it was not enough to muster a full comeback.
ASU hurler Dallas Escobedo (20-4) fanned 10 Bears and gave up six hits. Jolene Hendersonsuffered her second loss of the year, falling to 30-2.
Prior to the game, the Bears honored ASU's six seniors in attendance. Cal's five seniors - Valerie Arioto, Frani Echavarria, Elia Reid, Jamia Reid and Jace Williams- were accompanied by their family and friends for the traditional Saturday senior send-off.
Top of the Second - ASU 2, Cal 0:
Sam Parlich singled up the middle, Talor Haro singled to first and then Katelyn Boyd doubled to left-center, scoring both Parlich and Haro.
Top of the Seventh - ASU 5, Cal 0:
With Haro - who had singled - at third and Boyd - who had doubled - at second, Annie Lockwood flied out in center to plate Haro. Elizabeth Caporuscio notched an RBI single to second, scoring Boyd. A throwing error allowed Caporuscio to advance to third when Haley Steele beat out a throw at first. Amber Freeman singled through the right side, plating Caporuscio.
What's Next for the Bears:
With the Pac-12 title in hand as the conference's automatic qualifier, Cal awaits its postseason fate. The Bears will join the NCAA Tournament hopefuls on Sunday evening to watch the selection show beginning at 7 p.m. PT on ESPNU.
Twitter will be the first place to find out where and who the Bears will play so be sure to check out Twitter.com/CalSoftball to be the first of your friends to know.
