TEMPE, Ariz. – After freshman Makena Smith blasted a two-RBI double to cut an early Arizona State lead to 4-2, California looked like it found its offensive momentum in game 1 of its final Pac-12 series of the season.
 
And as Kamalani Dung stepped in as relief in the bottom of the third, combining for three strikeouts in the third and fourth frames to hold the Sun Devils scoreless, the Golden Bears (27-26, 4-17 Pac-12) sought to make it a battle.
 
Smith, who leads the Bears with 32 RBI this season, and Sabrina Nunez both went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead the Bears offense, while Dung threw seven strikeouts. Cal recorded eight hits, just shy of ASU's nine, with three base hits in the top of the sixth to jam the bags.

Unfortunately, the Sun Devils (29-17, 9-10 Pac-12) were able to tack three more scores on, on errant plays by Cal in the bottom of the fifth to provide the final 7-2 margin.
 
Zoe Conley picked up the loss to move to 8-17 for the season. The senior went 2.0 innings and gave up five hits, four runs and threw two strikeouts.
 
Cal continues the series on Saturday at 1 p.m. (PT).
 
For more information on Cal softball, follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @CalSB.