May 18, 2012
Berkeley Regional: Parking Info | Single-Session Ticket Info
Game One - Arkansas Defeats BU 3-2: Box Score | Arkansas Post-Game Quotes | BU Post-Game Quotes
Game Two - Cal Defeats Iona 8-0 (5): Box Score | Cal Post-Game Quotes | Iona Post-Game Quotes | Cal Post-Game Notes | Re-Read the Live Chat | Facebook Photo Album | Video Highlights
Score: No. 1 Seed Cal 8, Iona 0 (In Five innings)
Site: Levine-Fricke Field - Berkeley, Calif.
Records: Cal 51-4, Iona 35-25
Top Cal Performers: Breana Kostreba (2 H, 3 RBI); Frani Echavarria (2 H, 1 RBI); Britt Vonk (2 R, 2 H); Jolene Henderson (5.0 IP, 7 SO, 0 ER, 2 H)
Next Game: Saturday vs. Arkansas (3 p.m.)
BERKELEY - A pair of offensively lethal innings by the No. 1-seeded California softball team bookended Friday evening's game against Iona with the Golden Bears exacting an 8-0 mercy victory over the Gaels in game two of the Berkeley Regional. A passed ball scored the first run for the Bears in the bottom of the first, and then a two-run shot by Breana Kostreba put the Bears up 3-0 before the first even concluded. In the bottom of the fifth, Cal scored five runs on four hits, one Gael error, two walks and one hit batter to end the game early.
With the win, Cal improves to 51-4 and will face Arkansas at 3 p.m. on Saturday at Levine-Fricke Field. The Gaels fall to 35-25 and will play BU in an elimination game at 5 p.m. on Saturday. An incredible 1,059 fans came out to support the Bears for their first postseason hosting duties since 1993 and the first home night game in program history. Arkansas defeated Boston University 3-2 in the opening game of the Berkeley Regional.
Kostreba led the Bears with three RBI off her two hits. Frani Echavarria and Britt Vonk both tallied a pair of hits with Echavarria driving in the final run of the game. Jolene Henderson pitched a two-hitter, striking out seven in five innings of work.
Iona's Allyssa James had both of Iona's two hits. Sarah Jackson started in the circle, going 4.0 innings in which she allowed six earned runs on four hits and four walks. Alyssa Maiese threw the final 0.2 innings, fanning two but allowing the final earned run of the game.
Bottom of the First - Iona 0, Cal 3:
Britt Vonk walked, went to second on Valerie Arioto walk and then to third on a Jace Williams' fielder's choice. A Sarah Jackson pitch got away from catcher Katie Jansson for Vonk to score. With Williams at first and two outs, Breana Kostreba homered to right-center.
Bottom of the Fifth - Iona 0, Cal 5:
Echavarria led off with a single and then scored from first when the throw to first on a Jamia Reid grounder went awry, also allowing Reid to reach and advance to third. Vonk singled to short, scoring Reid from third, and then went to second on an Arioto walk. After a pitching change, Jace Williams walked to load the bases. Kostreba knocked in her third run of the game with a single to center, scoring Vonk. With the bases still loaded and just one out, Maiese hit Danielle Henderson for Cal's seventh run of the game. Echavarria tallied the game-ending single to second with the bases loaded, bringing home Williams.
Berkeley Regional Saturday Schedule:
3 p.m. - Game Three: Cal vs. Arkansas (Gametracker)
5 p.m. - Game Four: BU vs. Iona (Gametracker)
7 p.m. - Game Five: Loser Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4
