FRESNO – No. 17 California (20-3) clinched its series sweep over UC Santa Barbara for the season on Friday as the Golden Bears delivered a lopsided 12-2 decision in five innings.
 
In the teams' third faceoff of the season, Cal's bats were blazing collecting 11 hits on the way to a run-rule. Highlighted by freshman Lauren Espalin's home run in the Bear's five-run opening frame, the first of her collegiate career, Cal found the plate at least once during each of its at-bats.
 
The offensive prowess was on full display with eight different players pulling in runs to close the day. Espalin led with three RBIs and was one of three Bears to score twice against the Gauchos (8-15). Lindsay Rood and Mikayla Coelho added a pair of runs and RBIs each with freshman Sabrina Nunez also making her way around the bases on two occasions.
 
"It felt really good to just be able to contribute to us putting runs on the board and eventually get the win," Espalin said. "In our pregame talk Zoe (Conley) said to just keep it simple, and I kind of took that to heart and tried to remain clear-headed and have fun."
 
The Bears kept the Gauchos scoreless in four of five frames, despite giving up the shutout late in the fourth inning.
 
Conley (9-3) picked up the win and did not give up an earned run in her effort.
 
Cal 6, Monmouth 0
The work done in the circle by Kamalani Dung gave the California defense some rest as the junior delivered 10 strikeouts en route to a 6-0 victory over Monmouth to open the day for Cal at the Fresno State Invitational.
 
Dung, a transfer Fresno State, pitched a no-hitter through four innings remains undefeated in her 11th win of the season.
 
Marcella Kay blasted a two run dinger on the first pitch of her at-bat that highlighted the Bear's 6-0 romp of the Monmouth Hawks (5-5).
 
Cal plays another doubleheader on Saturday, opening against Cleveland State at 9 a.m. (PT) before concluding the day against Fresno State at 2 p.m. (PT). The Bears-Bulldogs match-up was moved up due to impending rain.
 
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