May 19, 2012
Game Four - BU Defeats Iona 4-2: Box Score | Iona Post-Game Quotes
Game Five - Cal Defeats BU 8-0: Box Score | BU Post-Game Quotes | Cal Post-Game Quotes | Video of Cal's Post-Game Press Conference
Score: No. 1 Seed Cal 8, BU 0 (Six Innings)
Site: Levine-Fricke Field - Berkeley, Calif.
Records: Cal 52-5, BU 41-16
Top Cal Performers: Victoria Jones (1 HR); Valerie Arioto (2 H, 2 R, 1 RBI); Jolene Henderson (6.0 IP, 3 H, 11 SO)
Next Game: Sunday vs. Arkansas, 5 pm.
BERKELEY - The No. 1-seeded California softball team kept its postseason dreams alive, beating Boston University 8-0 in six innings on Saturday evening in an elimination game. The Golden Bears square off with the Razorbacks at 5 p.m. Sunday and must beat Arkansas twice to win the Berkeley Regional.
Cal headed to the loser's bracket after dropping a 3-2 decision to Arkansas on Saturday afternoon. BU beat Iona 4-3 in 13 innings for the right to take on Cal in the elimination game. BU and Iona have both been eliminated from the NCAA Tournament.
Jolene Henderson got the nod in the circle and was responsible for 11 of the 18 outs with a bevy of strikeouts. Until the bottom of the fifth, all of the defensive outs for the Bears were either a Henderson KO or a 5-3 groundout.
Catcher Victoria Jones started the Bears off offensively with a towering shot to the bleachers in left field. After four intentional walks on the day - three of which came against Arkansas - BU threw to senior first baseman Valerie Arioto, who went two-for-two with two walks and an RBI. Also driving in runs were Jace Williams, Breana Kostreba, Cheyenne Cordes, Danielle Henderson and Frani Echavarria.
Top of the Second - Cal 1, BU 0:
On a 1-1 count with two outs in her first at-bat of the day, Victoria Jones hit the ball to the middle of the left-field stands.
Top of the Third - Cal 2, BU 0:
Being actually pitched to for the first time in four at-bats, Valerie Arioto cranked the ball to left-center and advanced to second when the center fielder bobbled it. Jace Williams moved Arioto to second on a ground out and then a sacrifice fly by Breana Kostreba scored Val.
Top of the Fourth - Cal 3, BU 0:
Jones doubled to the wall and scored when Frani Echavarria cranked the ball through the right side.
Top of the Fifth - Cal 4, BU 0:
Jones continued her red-hot night with a double to left-center, and scored thanks to an Echavarria single up the middle.
Top of the Sixth - Cal 8, BU 0:
Echavarria took a shot to the ankles, Jamia Reid singled to short and Britt Vonk singled to load the bases with no outs. Schuppert pitched to Arioto, who walked on five pitches for the sixth run of the game. A wild pitch brought Jamia Reid home and a Williams groundout scored Vonk.
Next Time on the Diamond:
Cal plays Arkansas on Sunday at 5 p.m. in an elimination game. Should Cal beat Arkansas, the two teams play against approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of that game for the Berkeley Regional title. If the Razorbacks win the first game of Sunday, they win the Berkeley Regional and advance.
