BERKELEY - Two separate rallies in the late innings showed the Cal softball team's resillience but visiting Arizona State used the home run ball to get the last word as the Bears dropped a 7-4 decision in nine innings at Levine-Fricke Field.

Trailing 2-0 heading to the seventh inning, Cal (14-13-1, 2-3-1 Pac-12) needed a hero if it wanted to keep playing and Kobie Pettis was happy to oblige. Khala Taylor gave the Bears a runner with a leadoff single and Pettis waited just two pitches to put a charge into the home crowd, belting a home run to right field to tie the game at 2.

Arizona State (26-9, 2-2) countered with a big fly of its own to re-take the lead. Brynley Steele put the Sun Devils back in front with a two-run shot in the top of the eighth, putting Cal in position to have to fight back again.

Again, the Bears responded, this time with a little help. Kylie Reed singled, Lindsay Rood walked and Annie Aldrete grounded out to move the runners into scoring position. Taurie Pogue followed with a grounder of her own but an error on ASU first baseman Margaret Stahm brought both runners in to score, tying the game at 4.

Arizona State countered again in the ninth and the reply came via the home run. Jennifer Soria, who homered in the first inning, sent a one-out liner over the wall in right to give the Sun Devils the lead. A walk by Chelsea Gonzales and home run by Nikki Girard extended that lead and Cal couldn't come back again, dropping the decision in the first game of the series.

Reed led the Bears offensively with a 3-for-4 day. Katie Sutherland-Finch did the lion's share of the pitching, logging 5.2 innings and scattering two runs and seven hits. Soria, Girard and Nichole Chilson each had three hits for Arizona State.

Cal and Arizona State return to Levine-Fricke Field on Saturday at 4 p.m. for game two of their three-game set. The final game of the series is scheduled for a 2 p.m. first pitch on Sunday. Both games will be broadcast live on Pac-12 Bay Area, Pac-12 Arizona and online at Pac-12.com.