Cal Erases Five-Run Deficit In Game One Victory
SALT LAKE CITY – California rallied from an early five-run deficit behind a season-high 15 hits to take game one of the series at Utah, 7-5, in eight innings Friday night at Dumke Family Softball Stadium.
The Bears (22-15, 4-6 Pac-12) got a homer from Alexis Bishop and three hit days by Acacia Anders, Tatum Anzaldo and Kacey Zobac on the way to the extra-inning victory. The Utes fell to 18-17 overall and 2-5 in Pac-12 play with the loss.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Utes were able to take an early lead in the home half of the first, plating a pair of runs on four hits to go up 2-0 after one complete. Utah kept the momentum going in the second inning, adding three runs on two hits and an error for a five-run lead through two.
Cal got on the board in the third behind three hits. Anders and Anzaldo led off with singles before Zobac came through with an RBI hit to right. Anders scored on the play, but Anzaldo was thrown out at home trying to score the second Bear run of the inning.
The Bears rallied in a big way to start the fifth, thanks to some momentum from Bishop. The Novato native crushed her fourth home run of the year, a bomb to dead center that pulled Cal within two runs at 5-3. Sona Halajian and Zobac followed with a double and single, respectively, putting runners at first and third with one-out.
Keeping the rally going, Olivia Silvestre pinch ran for Zobac at first and swiped her sixth base of the year to put two in scoring position. After a fielder's choice, Hope Alley dropped in a clutch double to bring home two and even the score at five runs apiece.
Cal took its first lead of the game in the top of the eighth behind three more hits. Amani Bradley opened the frame with a double and Anders followed with a single, her third hit of the day, to put the Bears in front, 6-5. Halajian added insurance with an RBI single of her own and she closed out the game in the bottom half of the inning to seal the victory and her 14th win of the season.
UP NEXT
Cal and Utah meet for game two of the series at 2pm PT on Saturday, April 9 from Dumke Family Softball Stadium.
STAY POSTED
For coverage of Cal softball, please follow the Bears on Twitter (@CalSB), Instagram (@calsb) and Facebook (/CalSoftball/).