Hawai'i 5-0

HONOLULU – California got a standout performance in the circle from Sona Halajian, along with three-hit days from Kacey Zobac and Tatum Anzaldo on the way to a 5-0 win over host Hawai'i at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium on Thursday night.

The Bears (17-6), blew open a close game late with four runs in the sixth and seventh innings, propelled by a 3-run shot from Halajian to finish any comeback chances from the Rainbow Wahine (5-7). Halajian turned in a complete game in the circle, scattering just five hits while striking out nine Hawai'i batters.   

HOW IT HAPPENED
Halajian was strong out of the gate in the circle, retiring the first seven UH batters she faced before allowing the first baserunner with a hit by pitch. She got help from Zobac in the top half of the second, when she went deep over the wall in left for her fourth home run of the season and a 1-0 Cal lead.

Working through the middle innings, Halajian stranded a pair of Rainbow Wahine runners in both the third and fourth to take the 1-0 lead into the bottom half of the fifth.

The Bears were able to get insurance for Halajian in the sixth behind a pair of hits. Zobac recorded her third hit of the day, a single to right, and came all the way around when Sophie Medellin laced a double down the left field line to make it 2-0, California.

Halajian helped herself out in a big way in the seventh, blasting a 3-run shot to dead center for her team-leading seventh home run of the season, securing her ninth win on the season in the circle.   

UP NEXT
Cal continues play at the Rainbow Wahine Classic on Friday, March 11 with a doubleheader against a pair of Big 12 opponents. The Bears battle Baylor at 2:30 pm PT, followed by a 5:30 pm PT first pitch against No. 1 Oklahoma.    

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