HARRISONBURG, Va. - A five-run fourth inning propelled the California softball team past UConn, 8-4, at the JMU Dukes Invitational at Veterans Memorial Park on the James Madison campus. 

The Golden Bears improved to 12-9, and they have taken the first two games in this weekend's tournament. 

Candace Yingling went 3-for-3, her first career three-hit game at Cal. 

UConn struck first with a solo home run in the top of the second, but D'Asha Saiki evened the game at one in the bottom of the second with a single that scored Yingling. Earlier in the inning, Cameron Kondo doubled to keep her hot bat going after posting three hits against Siena on Friday. 

After UConn regained a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth, the Bears put together a five-run fourth to take control. The rally started with back-to-back singles by Kacey Zobac and Yingling, which led to the bases being loaded. Pinch hitter Sophie Medellin got hit by the pitch to tie the game at two. The next batter, Amani Bradley, knocked in two with a single to make it, 4-2, Bears. After Makena Smith reached on an error to once again load the bases, Lauren Espalin singled and a following error plated two more Cal runners to complete the five-run frame. 

The Huskies fought back in the top of the fifth, cutting Cal's four-run lead down to two, but the Bears wouldn't allow any more runs. 

Smith singled in the bottom of the first to extend her hitting streak to 16 games, and she gave the Bears a couple insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run homer, her third long ball of the season. 

In the bottom of the sixth, Mikayla Coelho found a hole with a single, extending her hitting streak to a team-best 17 games. 

Cal will play the second game of Saturday's double header at 2 pm PT. The Bears' opponent will be determined later based on results later today. The makeup game against James Madison will be played at 11:30 am PT on Sunday