Behind a seven-strikeout day from sophomore Katie Sutherland-Finch, No. 17 Cal opened its Oregon State home series with a 3-1 win Friday afternoon on Levine-Fricke Field. The Bears improve to 25-6 overall and 3-4 in league play.
Sutherland-Finch offered up one run and five hits without a walk. She was two strikeouts shy of her career-high nine, set against Tennessee earlier this season.
Senior Britt Vonk led the Cal offense with a 2-for-3 day, and senior Breana Kostreba and freshman Taurie Pogue also added runs for the Bears. Pogue and sophomore Kylie Reed hit a pair of doubles in their 1-for-3 performances.
Sutherland-Finch started her fan fest early, striking out one in the first inning before adding another three – all swinging – in the top of the second.
After one and a half scoreless innings, the Bears lit up the scoreboard first, scoring two runs on a two-out rally at the bottom of the second. With two away in the inning, Kostreba walked and Pogue brought her in with a loud double off the centerfield wall. The Bears continued their rally when junior Vanessa Alvarez singled to left to score Pogue and give Cal the 2-0 lead.
In the top of the third inning, the Beavers had runners on the corners with just one out, but Sutherland-Finch escaped the jam after Dani Gilmore flew out to center and Natalie Hampton to popped out to first.
The Beavs’ lone run came in the fourth on a sac fly by CJ Chirichigno. Sammi Noland led off the inning with a double down the left field line, then advanced on a ground out before Chirichigno hit tabbed a fly ball to left field to bring in Noland for the 2-1 game.
A single to right field in the bottom of the fifth by Vonk set Cal’s third run in place. She advanced to second on an error, and capitalized on her speed when senior Cheyenne Cordes sent a single to left field to take two bases for the 3-2 lead.
ON DECK
Cal looks to take the series with a win beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday on Levine-Fricke Field.
