SARATOGA – The California softball team defeated North Carolina, 6-5, on Saturday afternoon at Viking Field to secure its first conference win of the season.

The Bears jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the second inning, plating four runs on five hits. Sophia Everett started the rally with a two-run triple to right center, and Kayli Counts followed with a two-run single.

UNC got on the board in the third with a sacrifice fly to cut the lead to 4-1.

Counts added another RBI on a sacrifice fly in the fourth to extend Cal's lead to 5-1.

The Tar Heels pulled within two, 5-3, on a two-run homer to right center in the fifth. Later in the inning, D'Auna Johnson delivered a pinch-hit RBI double to put Cal back in front by three, 6-3.

North Carolina made things interesting with one run in the sixth and another in the seventh, but Taylor Peacock shut the door to seal the win for the Bears.

Kiki Mashhoud (2-2) was strong in the circle for Cal, allowing three runs and scattering eight hits across five innings of work. Peacock picked up her first save of the season

Cal improved to 10-18 on the season and set up a rubber match with North Carolina on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. PT.

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