May 13, 2005
BERKELEY, Calif. - Junior Kristina Thorson pitched a three-hitter and the No. 2 California softball team, powered by a four-run third inning, defeated Arizona State, 9-1, in six innings Friday at Levine-Fricke Field.
After allowing the Sun Devils' (28-24, 3-17 Pac-10) lone run in the second, Thorson (21-4) pitched four and two-thirds innings of no-hit softball to close the game. Thorson had pitched 31.1 consecutive scoreless innings before giving up an RBI-single to ASU shortstop Rhiannon Baca.
The Bears (46-10 overall, 13-7 Pac-10) answered with three runs in the bottom of the second. Designated player Emily Friedman got the Cal scoring underway with a sacrifice fly to plate center fielder Kaleo Eldredge. Right fielder Alex Sutton then singled to center to score second baseman
Jessica Pamanian and first baseman Julie Meyer for a 3-1 lead.
With the bases loaded and no outs in the third, Pamanian chopped a ball to Sun Devils first baseman Kim Zadrozny. The throw to ASU catcher Heidi Knabe was high and Cal shortstop Chelsea Spencer slid in safely while catcher Haley Woods came around on the errant toss. Two batters later, Friedman doubled in Pamanian and Eldredge as the Bears pushed their lead to 7-1.
In the sixth, Spencer scored from third with two outs on a ground ball by Eldredge that ASU second baseman Jen McCard bobbled. Two batters later, pinch hitter Jeana Gevas invoked the eight-run rule with a double that scored pinch runner Erika Racklin from second.
Cal captured the season series from ASU following the Bears' 4-2 win April 1 in Tempe, Ariz.
Up next, ASU will close out the season with a final game against Cal on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.