Softball drops to 26-19.

April 18, 1998

BERKELEY, Calif.-- Arizona catcher Leah Braatz hit a grand slam in the top of the ninth inning to power the top-ranked Wildcats to an 8-4 victory over No. 21 Cal in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday on Strawberry Field.

In the second game, Arizona (45-3, 11-1) shut out the Golden Bears (26-19, 4-8), 3-0, behind a three-hitter by pitcher Becky Lemke.

In the opener, Arizona put together four hits in the fourth inning to take a 2-0 lead. The Wildcats improved their advantage to 4-0 with another pair of runs in the top of the seventh.

However, Cal, which had managed just one hit off Arizona starter Nancy Evans through six innings, rallied to tie the game in the seventh. Holly Yost singled and Katie May followed with a walk. Freshman left fielder Paige Bowie then hit the first home run of her career, a three-run blast that just cleared the right field wall. Three consecutive singles loaded the bases with one out and Megumi Takasaki's sacrifice fly to center field scored Pauline Duenas with the tying run. Amber Phillips then lined a ball between second and third, but shortstop Michelle Churnock made a running catch for the final out.

With the game going into extra frames, Arizona loaded the bases in the ninth inning on a single and two walks when Braatz hit her NCAA-leading 18th homer of the year to right center field.

In the second game, Nicole Giordano's two-out, two-run double scored a two runs in the third inning, and the Wildcats added a third run on a throwing error by Cal starter Yost.

The Bears did manage to get their leadoff runner on base five times in seven innings, but were unable to push a run across the plate.

Pacific-10 Conference

Game 1
Arizona     000 200 204 -- 8 11  0
California  000 000 400 -- 4  7  0
Evans (23-1) and Braatz. Floyd (14-10) and Takasaki. HR -- Bowie (C), Braatz (A).

Game 2
Arizona     002 010 0 -- 3  7  1
California  000 000 0 -- 0  3  1
Lemke (16-2) and Braatz. Yost, DiSalvio (5) and Takasaki. L -- Yost (4-4).

Records
Arizona 45-3 (11-1 Pac-10)
California  26-19 (4-8 Pac-10)