This week's schedule provides more of the same as California (16-7) opens conference play on Friday in Salt Lake City against Utah at 3 p.m. (PT).
Before the Bears settle into league play, however, they close the preseason slate with a home-opening doubleheader against Fairleigh Dickinson tomorrow at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. at Levine-Fricke Field.
Cal will continue on against the Utes with Saturday and Sunday games at 1 p.m. and 11 a.m., respectively.
BEARS BUSINESS
- Cal is on a historic run with seven consecutive five-inning wins, believed to be a program record
- Senior shortstop Lindsay Rood earned Pac-12 Player of the Week on March 12 after finishing a five-game stretch in Honolulu 11 for 17 (.647) recording six doubles, a triple and homer in that effort
- Rood leads the Pac-12 in overall batting average (.488), hits (40), triples (4) and stolen bases (16) and ranks second in on base percentage (.522), total bases (67) and is tied at second for doubles (10). The senior's 30 runs ranks third in the Pac-12
- In their last five outings, the Bears posted 56 runs and allowed just three; in their last seven they've recorded 78 runs and allowed six
- The Bears visit to Hawai'i was sentimental for senior ace Kamalani Dung, a native of Waianae. She threw a pair of run-rule shutouts, including a one-hitter, during her final outings at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium where she grew up playing. A season ago, she pitched her first-ever perfect game on March 1 against UTEP and Cal's first since 2010
- Senior ace Zoe Conley also found her spot in Honolulu as she through her first no-hitter in a Bears' uniform in Cal's 12-0 mercy rule over St. Bonaventure. Conley is Cal's single-season saves leader (7)
- Mikayla Coelho, a sophomore outfielder, leads the Pac-12 with a .538 on base percentage and tops the Cal ledger with 20 RBI and five home runs
LAST GO AT LEVINE-FRICKE
Cal softball will soon have a new stadium to call home under a plan announced by Chancellor Christ in the summer of 2018. Demolition of the site is expected to begin in the fall of 2019, with the Golden Bears moving into their facility for the 2021 season. Located on the current site of Levine-Fricke Field, once completed, the new stadium will include expanded permanent seating for 1,500 fans, covered batting cages, locker rooms, a video board, restrooms, field lighting and an elevated press box, among other amenities. The facility will be configured to meet current field dimension standards, allowing Cal the ability to host NCAA postseason games.
vs. Fairleigh Dickinson
- The Knights are 4-12 and are currently on the backend of a Northern California lineup that also included games against Pacific, Sacramento State, UC Davis and Santa Clara
- Wednesday will mark the first-ever meeting between the programs
- FDU has been outscored by opponents 72-36 and outhit 107-77
- Led by Porterville, Calif., native, Madison Emerson's .326 batting average and 14 hits
vs. Utah
- Currently 10-14, the Utes close out their preseason in Honolulu against the Rainbow Wahine Tuesday night
- Utah offense is led by utility Julia Noskin's 29 hits and 20 runs, while outfielder Alyssa Barrera has cleaned up for the Utes with a team-high 20 RBI
- Last series the Bears swept the Utes for the first time since 2013 in Berkeley
For more information on Cal softball, follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @CalSB.