Four Games Ahead For Bears In Utah

Wednesday, March 27

Ogden, UT

2:00 PM

California

Weber State

Reigning Pac-12 Player of the Week Acacia Anders and the Bears travel to Utah this week.

3/26/2024 3:39 PM | Softball

Watch: Weber State Live Stats: Weber State Watch: Utah Live Stats: Utah Notes (PDF)

No. 18 Cal Faces Weber State Prior To 3-Game Set With Utah

By: Cal Athletics

BERKELEY – The No. 18 California softball team hits the road for a four-game slate in Utah this week, beginning with a Wednesday nonconference game at Weber State, followed by a three-game Pac-12 series with Utah on Thursday through Saturday.

First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. PT on Wednesday, 4 p.m. PT on both Thursday and Friday, and 11 a.m. PT on Saturday.

MIDWEEK LINEUP

Teams: Cal (24-8) vs. Weber State (12-15)
Location: Wildcat Softball Field | Ogden, Utah
First pitch: Wednesday: 2 p.m. PT

WEEKEND LINEUP

Teams: Cal (24-8, 3-6 Pac-12) vs. Utah (17-14, 1-8 Pac-12)
Location: Dumke Family Softball Stadium | Salt Lake City, Utah
First pitch: Thursday: 4 p.m. PT | Friday: 4 p.m. PT | Saturday: 11 a.m. PT

HOW TO FOLLOW

Wednesday: Live Stats | ESPN+
Thursday: Live Stats | Pac-12 Network
Friday: Live Stats | Pac-12 Network
Saturday: Live Stats | Pac-12 Bay Area

SERIES AT A GLANCE

Cal leads the all-time series with Weber State, 2-1, with the last matchup coming on March 5, 2010, a 10-2 (5) Golden Bear victory. The Bears have a 36-22 all-time advantage against the Utes with Utah most recently taking last year's meeting in the inaugural Pac-12 Tournament, 6-2, on May 11, 2023. Cal took two of three in last year's series in Berkeley and the Bears' last series win in Salt Lake City came in 2013.

QUICK HITS

The Bears increased their team home run lead in the Pac-12 after hitting seven in last week's series vs. Arizona. Cal's 48 long balls are 15 more than Arizona (33) and 16 more than Washington (32), who sit second and third, respectively.
Cal is also among the top two in the conference in several other offensive categories, including runs (188, 2nd), hits (264, 2nd), doubles (47, 2nd), RBI (172, 2nd) and extra-base hits (98, 1st).
The Bears check in at No. 12 in the fourth NCAA RPI of the season. Cal was No. 9 in the initial rankings, its highest since reaching No. 2 in 2012.
Cal is ranked No. 18 in this week's NFCA poll, No. 19 in the USA Softball and Softball America rankings and sits at No. 18 in the D1 Softball rankings.
Acacia Anders became the second Golden Bear to win Pac-12 Player of the Week honors this season on Monday after hitting .500 (8-for-16) last week, collecting two home runs and three doubles to go with six RBI. Her 2-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning on Saturday vs. then-No. 21 Arizona ignited then-No. 19 Cal's comeback from five runs down to take a 7-6 win in nine innings. The Vacaville native hit another 2-run shot in the sixth inning on Sunday, extending Cal's lead to 8-4 as the Bears hung on for an 8-7 victory to secure the series. Anders scored five runs and tallied a .529 on base percentage with a 1.063 slugging percentage.
Cal won 14 straight games in February, the program's longest win streak since taking 22 in a row in 2013.
Chelsea Spencer earned win No. 100 as head coach of the Golden Bears three weeks ago at Oregon, where she spent six years as an assistant coach under Mike White from 2013-18.
Elon Butler was named Cal's first Pac-12 Player of the Week this season on Feb. 20 after a standout performance during the Golden Bears' undefeated weekend at the Littlewood Classic. Butler hit .600 (9-for-15) in Cal's five victories, collecting two home runs and two doubles to go with seven RBI. Her 2-run homer tied the game against then-No. 17/21 Virginia Tech as the Bears went on to a 6-5, eight-inning, victory over the Hokies.
Butler is currently leading the conference in home runs (11), and ranks 16th nationally.
Cal has a trio of players in the top four of the conference in home runs as Tianna Bell and Lagi Quiroga are in a five-way tie for fourth with eight long balls.
Anders has 14 doubles to top the Pac-12, the third most in the country. Her .420 batting average is fifth in the conference.
Randi Roelling is seventh in the conference with 63 strikeouts in the circle and is tied at the top with three saves.