EUGENE, Ore. – An evenly matched evening awaited the Golden Bears in Game 1 against the Ducks of Oregon at the immaculate Jane Sanders Stadium.
 
That was no surprise to California (23-21, 2-13 Pac-12) who came ready to battle each inning, understanding what was on the line this series - playoff hopes.
 
The board remained unchanged in the runs category through four innings, and just when it appeared that the fifth would provide the parity of earlier innings, UO, who sits in eighth place in the Pac-12, one spot ahead of Cal, struck on a two-out double to bring in the first run of the game.
 
Cal managed to escape every prior inning without giving up the plate behind some clutch pitching from senior ace Kamalani Dung, who pitched 5.0 innings on Thursday. In fact, after giving up three consecutive walks in the bottom of the second, Dung recovered with a monstrous strikeout and fielded a comebacker for the line out to strand all three Ducks. Dung recorded four hits and three strikeouts in the effort.
 
Unfortunately, the Bears were unable to put together any offensive momentum and were struck out 11 times.
 
Karlee Sparacino pelted a lead-off double in the top of the second to get Cal's first and only hit through six frames, before Sabrina Nunez and Amani Bradley connected for consecutive base hits in the top of the seventh. The Bears were unable to convert and finished the day leaving nine runners on in the 1-0 loss.
 
The Bears return to action under Friday night lights, with a 7 p.m. (PT) first pitch. The game will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Networks.
 
For more information on Cal softball, follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @CalSB.