Teperson, Defense Propel Cal Past Colorado State

FULLERTON, Calif. – California softball got eight strong innings from freshman Annabel Teperson in the circle on the way to a 2-1 victory in nine innings over Colorado State to close out the Easton Invitational on Sunday at Anderson Family Field.

Cal improved to 4-1 on the season with the win after Teperson gave up just three hits and one unearned run with eight strikeouts. Sona Halajian relieved Teperson in the ninth and picked up her second win of the season after striking out one while allowing no hits.  

How It Happened:
Teperson retired the Rams in order the first time through the lineup before CSU recorded its first hit in the top of the fourth on a leadoff bunt single, but she retired the next three Ram hitters in order to end the inning.

The Bears finally broke through at the plate in the bottom half of the fifth after just an infield single through the first four frames. Kacey Zobac tagged a 1-out double down the left field line and was the first baserunner in the game to be in scoring position.

Diamond Holland pinch-ran and moved to third on a Morgan Zamora groundout to shortstop, but the inning ended on a D'Asha Saiki popout.

Scoreless through seven, Colorado State started the international tiebreaker in the top of the eighth and recorded the first run of the game on a single up the middle.

Starting the Cal half of the tiebreaker, Olivia Silvestre stole third base and scored on a throwing error to tie the game 1-1. Diamond Holland followed with a walk and stole second on the first pitch to Hope Alley.

Holland moved to third with 1-out when Alley laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt right in front of the plate, but the inning ended with back-to-back strikeouts. Sona Halajian relieved Teperson in the circle to start the ninth and retired the Rams in order.

With Amani Bradley on second to start the bottom half of the ninth, Tatum Anzaldo produced a bunt single and moved the winning run to third in Bradley. After a strikeout, Makena Smith laid down a beautiful bunt and Bradley raced home to score the winning run.

Up Next:
The Bears travel to Tempe, Arizona for the Littlewood Classic next weekend with the first game starting at 9 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 18 against Illinois State.  

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