The California softball team (8-14) opens conference play against Duke at Shea Stadium in Sacramento on Friday at 2 p.m. PT.

It will be the first all-time meeting between the teams in a series. The Blue Devils and Golden Bears have faced off once, with the Bears winning 1-0 on Feb. 22, 2019. Duke enters Friday's matchup on a three-game winning streak, while Cal looks to build off a dominant performance against East Texas A&M to close out the Judi Garman Classic.

ON DECK

Friday, March 6 - Sunday, March 8

Shea Stadium | Sacramento, CA

HOW TO FOLLOW

Friday-Sunday: 2 P.M. PT / 2 P.M. PT / NOON PT | Live Stats

QUICK HITS

• Layna Gerhard tossed the Bears' first no-hitter in eight years on Sunday against East Texas A&M.
• The Bears' offense put up 16 runs in Sunday's win over ETAMU, Cal's first 16-run performance since Feb. 10, 2024.
• Freshman Sophia Everett recorded her first home run and first multi-hit game of her career against the Lions.
• Anaya Togia is top 20 in the ACC in hits (16th), doubles (20th), home runs (14th), RBI (19th) and total bases (13th). Togia also boasts a perfect fielding percentage while spending time at first base, second base and third base so far this season.

PROGRAM LEGACY

The Bears have made 36 NCAA Tournament appearances in history, which ranks fourth all-time behind UCLA, Arizona and Florida State. Cal, which has advanced to each of the past three NCAA Regionals, has also qualified for the Women's College World Series 12 times. The Bears won the NCAA championship in 2002. That '02 national championship crew was led by two future Hall of Famers, Jocelyn Forest and Cadance Harper. Harper still holds school season records for games played, doubles and assists, while her career marks include most at-bats, most games played and most doubles. Forest was the winning pitcher in the circle the day the Bears clinched the first NCAA women's team title ever at Cal. She was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player after posting a 4-0 record with a 0.50 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 28.0 innings of work at the Women's College World Series.

ABOUT STEVE SINGLETON

Steve Singleton was named the ninth head coach of the California softball program on Aug. 4, 2025. A former minor league baseball player and a native of nearby Oakland, Singleton spent three years coaching in professional baseball in the lower levels of the minors before being named an assistant coach at Texas in 2019. He ultimately was elevated to associate head coach and helped the Longhorns make three WCWS appearances. Singleton, who also coached collegiately at Florida Southwestern State, was named D1 Softball's Assistant Coach of the Year in 2024.

BY THE NUMBERS

5 – Cal has five freshman on the team this year - OF Sophia Rolon, INF Nina Peyton-Johnson, INF Jade Diaz, P/U Mya McGowan and OF Sophia Everett.

8 – The Bears have eight returners on this year's roster - INF/U Xiomei Geluz, U D'Auna Johnson, INF/OF Carly Raven, OF Kayli Counts, INF Harmony Andrade, P Kiki Mashhoud, C Alyssa Herrera and INF/OF Kyndal Todd.

10 – Cal has 10 incoming transfers this season, including seven from Power 4 Conference institutions - INF Gator Robinson (Boston College), C Anya German (Texas Tech), OF Kayla Lee (North Carolina), C/U Natalie Marshall (Kansas), P Layna Gerhard (Ohio State), INF Emma Jackson (Boston College) and P Tamya Waiters. INF Anaya Togia (Long Beach CC), INF Maddie Rey (Fresno State) and P Taylor Peacock (San Jose State) are other incoming transfers on the roster this season.

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