April 7, 2012

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Final Stats

Score: No. 1 Cal 11, Utah 3 (Five Innings)
Site: Ute Softball Field (Salt Lake City)
Records: Cal 35-1/8-0 Pac-12; Utah 23-11/0-5 Pac-12
Cal Leaders: Frani Echavarria (5 RBI, 1 HR 2 2B); Jolene Henderson (1 HR, 3 RBI)
Next Cal Game: Saturday at Utah (12:15 p.m. PT)

SALT LAKE CITY - After Friday's game was snowed out, the No. 1 California softball team rained five home runs on Utah en route to an 11-3 victory over the Utes in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader.

Jolene Henderson started things off with a three-run shot.

"I was just looking to hit my teammates in," Henderson said of her homer. "They did their job getting on, and I needed to get them in. It was a good game and the team hit well."

Jace Williams nailed the scoreboard with a shot.

"Home runs are always a surprise for me," Williams said. "I swing to singles and doubles. Every now and then, I accidentally hit one!"

Breana Kostreba bounced the ball off the left-field fence. The outfielders did not even bother turning on Valerie Arioto's blast to right center and then Danielle Hendersonwent deep over the right-field fence.

With Britt Vonk on second and Valerie Arioto on second with two outs and a 2-2 count on Breana Kostreba, the third strike got away from the Utah catcher, and on the throw down to first, and the ball rolled all the way to the right-field fence, allowing all three runners to score. With back-to-back walks, Cheyenne Cordes and Danielle Henderson set up Jolene Henderson, who homered to center.

Bottom of the First - Cal 6, Utah 2:

Dickman singled to right center, scoring Holm and Palauni.

Top of the Second - Cal 9, Utah 2:

Arioto reached on a fielder's choice and scored off a two-run shot by Jace Williamsto left center. Kostreba followed that up with a solo shot to left.

Top of the Fourth - Cal 10, Utah 2:

On the 3-1 pitch, Arioto homered to right field.

Top of the Fifth - Cal 11, Utah 2:

Danielle Hendersonwent deep for the fifth home run of the game.

Bottom of the Fifth - Cal 11, Utah 3:

With two outs, Palauni tripled down the right-field line, plating Hoopiiaina.

Next Time on the Diamond:

The doubleheader and the series with the Utes conclude Saturday afternoon.