Cal Takes Series From No. 7 Washington
BERKELEY – California softball got three hits from Tatum Anzaldo and a pair of hits from Makena Smith on the way to a come-from-behind, 6-5, victory to take the series from No. 7 Washington on Sunday at Levine-Fricke Field.
The Bears (20-9, 2-1 Pac-12) picked up their first series win against the Huskies (20-7, 1-2 Pac-12) since the 2015 season.
Acacia Anders added her second home run of the series and fifth of the season, while Sona Halajian earned her 12th win of the year in the circle (12-2).
HOW IT HAPPENED
Washington jumped on top in the first with a home run and sacrifice fly off of Cal starter Haylei Archer to go up 2-0 after the first frame. Archer, however, settled in and put up two scoreless half innings before Cal answered in the third.
After a flyout, Anzaldo singled to center field and brought Anders to the plate with one-out. The freshman from Vacaville lined a 2-1 pitch from Kelley Lynch over the wall in dead centerfield, knotting the score at 2-2 after three complete.
The seventh-ranked Huskies quickly went back in front in the fourth, using a 3-run homer off the bat of Kinsey Fiedler to make it 5-2. Cal had an answer yet again, putting two on the board in the bottom half with a 2-RBI single through the right side to make it just a one-run game after four.
Trailing 5-4 heading into the bottom of the sixth, Cal got back-to-back singles from Amani Bradley and Smith off of Washington ace Gabbie Plain to lead off the inning. Anzaldo followed by laying down a perfect bunt for a base hit to plate Bradley and Smith scored on a Plain throwing error to put the Bears in front, 6-5.
Halajian gave up a two-out walk in the seventh, but ended the game with a groundout to Anzaldo at shortstop to give Cal its second win in three games against a Top-10 opponent.
UP NEXT
Cal hosts Sacramento State in a midweek game at 2 pm on Wednesday, March 23 at Levine-Fricke Field. The game will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Networks and admission is free.
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