Sun Devils Even Series With No. 20 Bears

TEMPE, Ariz. – The No. 20 California softball team fell, 5-4, on Saturday night as Arizona State evened the series in walk-off fashion at Farrington Stadium.   

Kaylee Pond, Mika Lee and Lagi Quiroga all homered for the Golden Bears (32-15, 6-12 Pac-12). Audrey LeClair hit a walk-off home run for the Sun Devils (19-26, 3-17 Pac-12).

Cal got on the board early when Tatum Anzaldo doubled, advanced to third on a wild pitch and stole home to give the Bears a 1-0 lead after the top of the first. Arizona State battled back to score two runs on a hit and an error in the home half, but the Bears' big bats broke out after that.

Kaylee Pond led off the second with a solo home run and Mika Lee followed with a solo shot of her own with two down, on a play that was initially ruled a double before being changed to a home run after replay review.

Leading 3-2, starter Randi Roelling got it going through the third, retiring six of seven batters she faced with just a walk allowed. Quiroga gave the Bears some cushion in the fifth with an absolute blast to left field, her 13th of the year, that was still climbing when it hit the trees to make it 4-2.

Roelling took the lead into the sixth until the Sun Devils got a run back on a two-out solo shot to pull within one at 4-3. Arizona State kept its rally going in the seventh, hitting back-to-back solo home runs to start the frame for the walk-off win.

UP NEXT
Cal and Arizona State decide the series on Sunday with a rubber match. First pitch is scheduled for noon PT from Farrington Stadium.      

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