May 6, 2012

Final Stats

Score: No. 1 California 4, No. 22 OSU 1
Site: OSU Softball Complex (Corvallis, Ore.)
Records: Cal 48-3, 19-2 Pac-12; OSU 33-19, 8-12 Pac-12
Cal Leaders: Lindsey Ziegenhirt (1 HR, 2 RBI); Cheyenne Cordes (1 SF, 1 RBI); Jace Williams (1 SF, 1 RBI); Jolene Henderson (7.0 IP, 12 SO, 1 ER)
Next Game: Thursday vs. Arizona State (3 p.m.)

CORVALLIS, Ore. - Thanks to a 4-1 win over Oregon State on Sunday afternoon, the No. 1 California softball team earned its fifth Pac-12 series sweep and its seventh overall conference series victory. For the third time this weekend, an early lead proved key for the Golden Bears, who doubled their lead with two runs in the sixth to take a 4-0 advantage into the seventh, when the Beavers avoided the shutout with one run.

The Beavers outhit the Bears 4-3 with both teams making one error.

Jolene Henderson (29-1) struck out a recent high of 12 in her seven-inning outing. OSU split the pitching duties amonst three Beavers - Hall, Andreana and Demore - with Hall (14-3) taking the loss after she gave up the inaugural Cal run.

Top of the First - Cal 1, OSU 0:

Ashley Decker walked and advanced to third thanks to a Valerie Arioto double to right. In the midst of a sacrifice fly, Jace Williams reached and Decker came around to score.

With one away and the bases loaded, Cheyenne Cordes sacrifice flied out to left, allowing Arioto - who had walked on 10 pitches - to score from third.

Top of the Sixth - Cal 4, OSU 0:

Danielle Henderson merited a five-pitch walk, bringing up Lindsey Ziegenhirt with one away. On a 3-1 count, Ziegenhirt promptly homered to left-center.

Bottom of the Seventh - Cal 4, OSU 1:

Trying to muster a comeback, Gilmore singled to right field, stole second, and came home when Santana singled to center field. Jolene Henderson got the final two batters to strike out swinging and ground out, leaving two Beavers on to end the game.

Next Time Out on the Diamond:

Cal hosts Pac-12 rival No. 2 Arizona State for the final conference series of the season. The Bears and Sun Devils get things started Thursday, May 10 at 3 p.m. The middle game - Friday, May 11 at 3 p.m. - will be Cal's inaugural StrikeOut Cancer game. The Bears bid adieu to their senior class of Valerie Arioto, Frani Echavarria, Elia Reid, Jamia Reid and Jace Williams on Saturday, May 12 at noon.