FRESNO – The California softball team continues to accumulate wins after defeating Cal State Bakersfield (9-0) in six innings and Fresno State (7-2) on the second day of the Fresno State Invitational at Margie Wright Diamond in Fresno, California.
The Golden Bears improved to 14-4 and have won eight straight games dating back to Feb. 21 against Washington. During the eight-game span, the Bears have recorded four run-rule victories and have held its opponent scoreless on three occasions.
Game 1: Cal – 9 | CSU Bakersfield – 0
After a scoreless opening inning, Cal put the first run on the scoreboard in the second. Mia Phillips got into scoring position after finding the gap in left field for a triple, her fourth of the season. Phillips scored after Nailyn Marshall knocked in a base hit to give the Bears a 1-0 lead.
The Bears continued to pressure the Roadrunners after opening the bottom of the third inning with a base hit from Kaylee Pond. Holly Medina came in as a pinch runner for Pond and quickly got into scoring position after stealing second and third base. While stealing third, Medina made her way home due to a fielding error by the Roadrunners as Cal took a 2-0 lead into the fourth inning.
Pitcher Ryann Orange continued her impressive day on the mound after recording three strikeouts on six batters faced to retire the side in the fourth. In the bottom half of the frame, the Bears had two runners aboard as Acacia Anders came up to bat. Anders brought both runners across the plate with a double to left field, giving Cal a 4-0 lead. The Bears continued the attack after loading the bases with two outs. Phillips recorded her second hit with a three-RBI double, giving Cal a commanding 7-0 lead after four innings of play.
Kayla Mashhoud took the mound in the top of the fifth and continued to shut down the Roadrunners en route to retiring four straight batters in 1.1 innings. In the bottom of the sixth, Tianna Bell blasted a two-run home run to give the Bears a run-rule walk-off victory.
Orange and Mashhoud combined for the shutout win, while Orange tallied six strikeouts and surrendered two hits through 4.2 innings, earning her fourth win this season.
Game 2: Cal – 7 | Fresno State – 2
After a hit-less game through two innings, the action began to pick up in the third. Mika Lee opened the frame with a base hit to record the game’s first hit. With a runner on second and third base, Acacia Anders grounded out to second base, allowing a runner to score.
Cal took advantage of several miscues from Fresno State in the fifth inning, resulting in six runs in the frame to take a 7-0 lead. Five Bears scored due to errors by the Bulldogs, while Kaylee Pond hit an RBI double to help Cal pull away.
Pitcher Miranda De Nava put on a pitching clinic to hold the Bulldogs scoreless with only four hits through six innings of play. The Bulldogs tacked on a pair of runs in the seventh inning but couldn’t overcome their deficit.
De Nava pitched a complete game, recording two strikeouts and earning her sixth win of the season.
UP NEXT
Cal will conclude the Fresno State Invitational tomorrow against Southern Utah with the first pitch scheduled for 9:30 a.m. PT.
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