May 27, 2012

Final Stats |  Quotes

Score: No. 1 Seed California 2, No. 16 Seed Washington 0
Site: Levine-Fricke Field - Berkeley, Calif.
Records: California 56-4, Washington 39-19
Top Cal Performers: Cheyenne Cordes (1 HR, 2 RBI); Jolene Henderson (7.0 IP, 9 K, 3 H)
Next Game: Thursday vs. LSU

BERKELEY - With a two-run homer from Cheyenne Cordes homer that cleared the scoreboard in left field and a nine-strikeout, three-hit performance from Jolene Henderson, the No. 1 California softball team beat Washington 2-0 to book a trip to Oklahoma City for the Golden Bears' 12th appearance in the Women's College World Series.

After losing game one of the Berkeley Super Regional 5-0 on Saturday night, the Huskies came out firing on all cylinders in the bottom of the first as the home team on Cal's turf. Victoria Hayward led off with an eight-pitch walk, Nikia Williams singled to left, and Kimi Pohlman walked to load the bases with one out.

Danielle Henderson made a great grab on a Hooch Fagaly liner to give the Bears two outs. On the run, Jamia Reid made a highlight-reel worthy sliding catch to end the inning, robbing Shawna Wright of what would have been a three-run hit.

Jolene Henderson did not allow a ball out of the infield after that almost-fateful first inning. The Bears had not gotten a baserunner until the top of the fourth, when Cordes walked, and Breana Kostreba had Cal's first hit of the game with a solid single up the middle in the top of the fifth. Elia Reid took over for Kostreba at first, and with two outs, Cordes sent the fifth pitch of her at-bat over the scoreboard for a two-run homer.

In total, the Bears outhit the Huskies 5-3. Washington left seven baserunners stranded with Cal leaving six on base.

Jolene Henderson threw her second win of the Berkeley Super Regional, fanning nine Huskies and allowing just three hits.

Bryana Walker - who had pitched three innings against the Bears across the three-game Pac-12 series - suffered the loss after giving up the two earned runs on five hits and three walks. Kaitlin Inglesby - who took the loss on Saturday night - pitched one inning of perfect ball.

Next Time on the Diamond:

Cal takes on LSU on the first day of the Women's College World Series on Thursday in Oklahoma City.