April 7, 2012

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Final Stats

Score: No. 1 Cal 12, Utah 3 (Six Innings)
Site: Ute Softball Field (Salt Lake City)
Records: Cal 36-1/9-0 Pac-12; Utah 23-12/0-6 Pac-12
Cal Leaders: Danielle Henderson (1 HR, 3 RBI); Victoria Jones (2 H, 3 RBI); Ashley Decker (1 HR, 2 RBI); Jolene Henderson (6.0 IP, 6 SO)
Next Cal Game: Wednesday at Saint Mary's (3 p.m.)

SALT LAKE CITY -The No. 1 California softball broke out the brooms once again, wrapping up the inaugural conference series against Utah with a 12-3 win for the Golden Bears' third Pac-12 sweep of the year.

"As a unit, we did awesome work this weekend and hit a ton of long balls," Jace Williams said. "We scored 33 total runs and played excellent defense behind our pitchers against a good team in Utah. Overall, we had a very dominant weekend for us as a team."

For the first time all weekend, the Bears had to battle from a deficit after the Utes scored in the bottom of the first. With things tied 3-3 in the top of the fifth, Cal exploded for four runs and tacked on another five in the sixth to ensure the mercy win.

"We came out strong against Utah and we worked as a team this entire weekend," Danielle Henderson said. "It was great to see everyone step up in any situation. Every person made a difference this weekend. When I homered, I was just trying to get a basehit and make something happen. Everyone was on a roll and it helped me feel more relaxed up there."

Ashley Decker, Breana Kostreba and Danielle Henderson all homered.

"I had two strikes on me so I was just trying to put the ball in play," Kostreba said of her bomb. "We came out fuller of energy an excited to play."

"It feels great to be on such a successful team, and even better when I am able to contribute," Decker said.

Cal moves to 36-1 overall and 9-0 in the Pac-12 while Utah drops to 23-12 and 0-6 in conference play. The Bears have now swept Stanford, Washing and Utah. The remaining Pac-12 series are Arizona, Oregon, UCLA, Oregon State and Arizona State.

Jolene Henderson improves to 20-1 with her six-inning win in which she fanned six and allowed three earned runs on six hits and two walks.

After pitching just one inning in the first game of the day, Generra Nielson started and pitched 5.2 innings, giving up 11 earned runs on 12 hits and four walks. Mariah Ramirez threw the final 0.1 inning, allowing one earned run on two hits.

Bottom of the First - Cal 0, Utah 1:

Whitney Holm singled to left, scoring Kelsi Hoopiiaina, who had a lead-off single to short.

Top of the Second - Cal 1, Utah 1:

Breana Kostrebatallied a solo shot to left.

Top of the Third - Cal 3, Utah 1:

Jamia Reidled off by singling through the left side and scored when Decker homered to left center.

Bottom of the Fourth - Cal 3, Utah 3:

Katelyn Elliott homered to left, starting things off. Marissa Mendenhall stepped in to pinch hit, and doubled to left center to drive in Clements, who had singled through the left side.

Top of the Fifth - Cal 7, Utah 3:

Valerie Arioto walked and advanced to third on a Jace Williams doubled and scored on a throwing error by the center fielder. Cheyenne Cordes drove in Williams by singled to left. Danielle Hendersonhit her third homer of the weekend - this one to center - bringing in Cordes.

Top of the Sixth - Cal 12, Utah 3:

Danielle Henderson earned a bases-loaded walk and Victoria Jones drove in three runs with a triple down the right-field line. Frani Echavarriacompleted the scoring with an RBI single to right, scoring Jones.

Next Time on the Diamond:

Cal makes the short trip over to Moraga, Calif., for a midweek match-up at Saint Mary's on Wednesday, April 11. The rival Wildcats of Arizona then come to town, beginning the three-game series Friday, April 13 at 3 p.m. Things continue with a special alumni day on April 14 at 1 p.m. The series closes April 15 at noon at Levine-Fricke Field.