No clutch hitting first inning. Bases loaded, two outs; Pond strikes out. Need to take advantage of these situations. Help your pitcher.

To start the series finale, Cal gets the bases loaded with two out. Kaylee Pond works the count to 3-2 and takes a called strike three. She never swung the bat but had three called strikes. It's like she's trying to walk rather than drive in runs (RBIs). Bears could have set the tone there but were passive and failed.

Same scenario existed in the T2nd with two runners on base and Tatum Anzaldo pops up to CF. Five runners left on base over initial two innings. I have a feeling that Deb Jones will pitch the 1st half of the game and Marissa Schuld will takeover for the back half. Schuld was much tougher on Cal hitters. Bears produced 11 runs on 15 hits on Friday night.

Top of the 3rd, Tianna Bell HBP. However, Chelsea Spencer calls for a hit and run play and Acacia Anders misses the ball and Bell is thrown out at second. Anders immediately follows with a line drive single to CF. The offense shoots itself in the foot, again. Elon Butler then follows with her 15th HR into the trees behind the LF wall. Kaylee Pond pulls a homerun to RF. Why didn't she swing the bat with the bases loaded in the first frame?

Marissa Schuld is in in relief. Mika Lee welcomes her with a three run bolt over the RF fence for a 6-0 score. Three round-trippers belted in the T3rd. Bears have hit 3 HRs in each game in the desert.

B3rd-Haylei Archer walks Leclair and hits her second batter in Hall to put two runners on base. Command questions beginning to surface w/ Archer. Wendle get a hit off of the change-up to make it 6-1 with two on and only one out. Van Hook raps a single to LF to load the bases with Lissy coming up. Wild pitch scores a second run and Haylei hits a third batter to re-load the bases. She needs to be replaced for goodness sakes!

B4th-Roelling enters in relief. First batter ropes a ball to CF but Diamond Holland makes a diving catch to save extra bases. RR hits the next hitter for the fourth HBP Sun Devil today. Bear's pitching leaves much to be desired. Tianna Bell fails to field a high hop at first base for another infield error. ASU's best hitter Kelsey Hall is up now. She walks to load the bases. Three straight batters have reached base without a hit. Bears are attempting to put Arizona State right back into this ballgame.

In T5th, Kaylee Pond walks and Mika Lee doubles to RCF fence for a 7-2 lead. Quiroga nearly gets one but flies out the LF warning track.

In the B6th, Ryann Orange hits fifth ASU batter and allows a bloop single to RF. Cal wins series and pitching MVP goes to Ryann Orange with three shutout IP. She yielded 1 hit and struckout 4. GO BEARS!

I like the pressure we are putting on Jones. Just need to execute. Go Bears!

We scored 7 runs against her Friday night!

BUTLER BLAST! 💥

Elon gives us the lead with her 15th bomb of the year!

⬆️3 | No. 20 Cal 2, Arizona State 0 #GoBears pic.twitter.com/12vW6ABxl0

— Cal Softball (@CalSB) April 28, 2024

Back to back bombs! 3-0 Bears

Cal chases Jones in the 3rd, Schuld in for ASU. Let's bust this thing open.

And that we do! 3 run bomb by Lee. 6-0 Bears

I guess the Bears are bit mad about last night. hmmmmm

Long ball cures all!!

Take care of business, Haylei!!

Is that 3 batters now that's she has hit?

Plus, the wild pitches. Good grief!

Almost gave back the 6 runs scored for her.

Loving the fight in this bears offense. Let's get win 34!

I believe it's 33.

SFCALBear72 said:

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I believe it's 33.

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Correct! Cal improves to 33-15. Impressive response. 3 innings of 1 hit, 4k relief from Orange.

I'm all for progress not perfection. We had 35 wins last year. Continue to improve each season and make it a step further than the last. We've got a solid base and some great recruits coming in. As always, just need to execute.

A 38-13 Nevada team visits Berkeley on Wednesday afternoon.

And then it's the final regular season homestand with 3 against the Beavers. Then the conference tournament starting May 8.

SFCALBear72 said:

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A 38-13 Nevada team visits Berkeley on Wednesday afternoon.

And then it's the final regular season homestand with 3 against the Beavers. Then the conference tournament starting May 8.

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Nevada can rake! We could see a lot of homers Wednesday afternoon.

Looking at the standings now…if Cal wins 2 out of 3 vs Oregon State, they miss the play in game and get a 7 seed.

If they win 2 out of 3 and Utah gets swept by UW, Cal will finish with a 6 seed. Long story short, we have to win 2 out of 3.

2024 University of Nevada Softball (PDF) - University of Nevada Athletics (nevadawolfpack.com)

This team has out-homered Cal so far this season. The Nevada Wolfpack has played four more games than Cal so the HRs per game is nearly identical. The team that wins *home run derby* on Wednesday should jump into the lead. Kylie Todd should be inserted into RF for this game to present the batting order with the most fire power.
GO BEARS!