BERKELEY – Victory tastes much sweeter, especially one that required some diligence.
 
California (27-16, 3-11 Pac-12) realized that today after routing UC Davis 6-4 on Wednesday at Davis' La Rue Softball Field.
 
A 3-0 deficit at the end of the first inning put a sour taste in the mouths of the Golden Bears who opened with a sloppy defensive display. At no moment did UCD (18-27) allow the Bears to feel too comfortable with a valiant hitting effort to connect on six and get runners on base in 4 of 7 innings.
 
Regaining poise in the following frames, Cal followed a two-run half with a four-run effort in the top of third to take a 6-3 lead and remain ahead the remainder of the game.
 
The most productive half of the day started with a trio of hits including an RBI double from Kobie Pettis that brought home the innings' leadoff batter Lindsay Rood. The momentum kept building after Pettis reached home sidestepping the catcher during a rundown after a fielder's choice during Khala Taylor's at-bat.
 
Taylor reached first putting Bears at first and third, where Alleah Laxamana resided after she posted the third hit of the half. Cal's efforts began to fluster the defense and Laxamana found home on a wild pitch that brought Taylor to third.
 
Freshman Bradie Fillmore RBI bunted to give Taylor, who led with two runs on the day, a way home that took a bit of effort after colliding with the Aggies pitcher on the third base line. The senior starter kept her momentum and found the plate leaving her opponent in the dust to notch the go-ahead run.
 
Taylor opened up the scoring effort for Cal as well in the top of the second as she slid home on an RBI single bunt by Krysten McCue. McCue found the plate herself after an RBI single from Jazmyn Jackson, who along with Rood led the Bears with a pair of hits. Jackson notched her 16th double of the season to remain the current Pac-12 leader.
 
Up next, the Bears host conference opponent and eighth-ranked Washington in a three game weekend series beginning at 4 p.m. (PT) Friday in Strawberry Canyon.
 
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