Bats Power Cal To Run Rule Win Over Portland State

TEMPE, Ariz. – California softball used an offensive explosion to run rule Portland State, 11-2, in five innings Saturday afternoon at the Littlewood Classic at Farrington Stadium.

The Bears (6-2) recorded 11 hits and two home runs a day after managing just four total base hits against the Vikings (6-3). Makena Smith hammered a 2-run shot to the opposite field and Candace Yingling poured it on with a grand slam in the third inning.

Sona Halajian recorded her second win in as many days and fourth of the season in the circle, going five innings and allowing just two runs on six hits with four strikeouts.   

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bears bats were alive early as Tatum Anzaldo led off the game with a single before Acacia Anders followed with a double to center putting runners on second and third with no outs. Smith plated Anzaldo on an RBI groundout to make it 1-0 Cal, but a lineout double play ended the inning.

After pushing across another run in the second, Cal poured it on during an 8-run third frame. Anders started the inning with a walk and after a long Smith at-bat where she fouled off several pitches to stay alive, the junior went opposite field with a towering home run to right field, the 19th of her career to make it 4-1 Bears.  

Cal wasn't done as Halajian and Alexis Bishop followed with back-to-back singles before Sophie Medellin drew a walk to load the bases for Yingling. She cleared the bases by blasting a shot over the fence in left field to make it a 9-1 Cal advantage.  

UP NEXT
Cal returns to Farrington Stadium for the final day of the Littlewood Classic on Sunday, Feb. 20. The Bears open with a 9:30 a.m. PT first pitch against Minnesota, followed by a 12 noon PT start vs. UTEP to wrap up the tournament. 

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