March 3, 2012

Final Stats

BERKELEY - Behind a seven-running third inning, the No. 1/2 California softball team commandeered an 11-3 win over East Carolina on Saturday morning at Cal State Fullerton's Anderson Family Field. The Golden Bears added four runs in the fourth to end the game in five innings, improving to 15-0 overall while the Pirates fall to 7-7.

Senior Valerie Arioto pitched the Bears to the five-inning victory, tying her season high of 11 strikeouts.

Arioto was far from lacking run support for Breana Kostreba led the Bears with three RBI while three other Bears - Arioto, Jace Williams and Cheyenne Cordes - drove in two runs each.

Kostreba plated two in the third with a double and then another in the fourth on a ground out.

"I picked my pitch and let the ball into my zone," Kostreba said. "We had a lot of energy and focus today."

Cordes' two RBI came courtesy her second homer of the year.

For the first time all year, there were no Cal strikeouts in the batter's box. Courtney Smith started and suffered the loss after allowing seven earned runs on six hits and two walks. Sarah Christian pitched the fourth inning, giving up four earned runs on three hits.

Bottom of the Third - ECU 0, Cal 7:

The Bears strung together four consecutive hits from Jolene Henderson, Frani Echavarria, Jamia Reid and Britt Vonk. With the bases juiced, Valerie Arioto watched five pitches sail by for a walk, scoring Echavarria, and Williams grounded out to bring Reid home. Breana Kostreba plated Arioto and Vonk with a double to left center. On the 1-0 pitch, Cordes homered to left to score two.

Suzanne Riggs walked and scored when Cicely Lewis homered to right center.

Bottom of the Fourth - ECU 2, Cal 11:

It was déjà vu with Echavarria, Reid and Vonk singling followed by an Arioto RBI walk and an RBI ground out by Williams. Vonk came home on a wild pitch and Arioto scored when Kostreba grounded out to second.

Top of the Fifth - ECU 3, Cal 11:

Alex Fieldhouse singled up the middle to score Chelsea Kaluhiokalani-Glackin.

Next Time on the Diamond:

Cal looks to tackle Northwestern at 11:15 a.m. in Fullerton.