SB3/10/2018 4:14 PM | By: Cal Athletics
Bears Blank the Bulldogs
FRESNO – In its most anticipated match-up of the weekend against home-team Fresno State (12-11), the 17th-ranked Golden Bears continued the momentum from its first game of the day against Cleveland State, letting their bats do the talking.
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While both sides produced strong defense, California (22-3) managed to jump on the boards in top of the fourth, with its defense intact through the bottom half, to clinch a 7-0 victory and remain undefeated through the weekend.
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Senior
Taurie Pogue started the scoring frenzy with an RBI double to bring home
Kobie Pettis and then
Krysten McCue brought in Pogue. Second baseman
Lindsay Rood doubled to get
Karlee Sparacino home and
Jazmyn Jackson drilled one up the middle to bring in in both McCue and Rood, who jetted around the bags for the 5-0 lead.
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"Today was great; we really dug deep and got after it as a team" Pogue said. "We did an awesome job rallying and doing our jobs at the plate. We got on base, moved runners into scoring position, and got the keys hits to bring them home. It was an all around great job by our offense and defense."
Freshman catcher
Lauren Espalin tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh with a two RBI double that allowed
Bradie Fillmore and
Sabrina Nunez an easy path home.
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Zoe Conley recorded her 10th win of the season delivering seven strikeouts to lead the defensive efforts and clinch the team's second shutout of the weekend. Through four games, Cal has given up just three runs.
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Cal closes the preseason and weekend on Sunday with an 11:30 a.m. (PT) contest with Monmouth. The Bears downed the Hawks 6-0 in their tournament opener, marking the first-ever game between the programs.
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