LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A seventh-inning grand slam from senior Cheyenne Cordes broke a 2-2 tie and lifted No. 16 Cal softball to victory against Iowa State, 6-2, Friday morning in the opening game of UNLV’s Rebel Classic. Cal improves to 18-1.
Cordes went 1-for-3 with the second of Cal’s two home runs on the day as senior teammate Danielle Henderson also launched a long ball in the second inning. The Bears were also bolstered by a perfect 2-for-2 performance by junior Vanessa Alvarez, who notched two runs and a walk. Freshman Jazmyn Jackson was 2-for-3 with a run scored.
The Bears found themselves in the hole after the first inning, when Iowa State, the home team, turned in a pair of sacrifice hits to take a 2-0 lead. A bunt single followed by a double put two runners in scoring position, then Maddie Reese bunted in her runner at third. Rachel Hartman hit a sacrifice fly to center field, plating another run.
Henderson answered with a solo homer to left field to cut the Cylones' lead to 2-1.
Cal's top half of the fifth started with a leadoff double by Alvarez. Jackson singled, then stole second, putting two in scoring position. A wild pitch sent Alvarez across, and the Bears left the inning with a tied ballgame.
Alvarez, who led off in all three of her at-bats, led off the seventh inning with a walk, and Jackson again followed up with a single. Sophomore Kylie Reed laid down the sacrifice bunt to move her runners into scoring position. The Bears showcased their smart baserunning when Vonk hit into a fielder's choice. Alvarez waited at third and made a move, heading back to her base when Vonk reached first, and suddenly the bases were loaded. Cordes picked her final at bat to send Cal's second shot of the day over the center field wall.
Stephanie Trzcinski (9-0) earned her fifth complete-game shutout on a five-hit, two-run performance, offering up no walks while fanning five.
ON DECK
Cal returns to Eller Media Stadium on Saturday to face Eastern Kentucky at 9 a.m. PT and UC Santa Barbara a 1:30 p.m.
