CATHEDRAL CITY – California was on the favorable end of a closely-contested battle with Ohio State that nearly went to extra innings on Sunday.
 
However, timely defense down the stretch to keep the Buckeyes stalled at four runs after the fifth inning, gave the Golden Bears a chance to seal the 5-4 win on a double by Kobie Pettis to lead off the bottom of the seventh and Khala Taylor RBI singled to bring her home.
 
The comeback win kept the Bears (12-1) undefeated through the four-game weekend and extends their win streak to nine.
 
A three-run fifth inning pushed Ohio State ahead 4-2, in the most productive inning for both teams, but Cal tied things up in the bottom half notching two runs of its own. Lindsay Rood was walked and made her way around the bases on back-to-back singles from Kylie Reed and Jazmyn Jackson to load the bases.
 
Pettis's and Taylor's at-bats were again clutch, as Pettis was walked to give Rood a free ticket home and Taylor picked up another RBI single to get Reed home to tie things up. The Bears were unable to extend their lead with full bases, but productive pitching made the difference.
 
Senior Stephanie Trzcinski came in to relieve Zoe Conley, who finished with five strikeouts before retiring. Trzcinski tallied her second win of the season after entering in the top of the fifth with one out and delivered three strikeouts of her own.
 
The Bears allowed the Buckeyes one run in the top of the third, but quickly regained the lead scoring two runs from Rood and Reed in the bottom of the inning.
 
The Bears return to action on March 1 as they host University of the Pacific in their home opener at 3 p.m. in another one-off before they head to Fullerton, Calif., for the Judi Garman Classic.
 
For more information on Cal softball follow the team @CalSB on Twitter and Instagram and like the Cal Softball page on Facebook.