Archer cannot handle the humidity and is walking or hitting 1-2 per inning. The Salukis seem to be able to hit her w/ no problem. Ryann Orange needs to come in...
The one good thing is that all three Cal hitters got good wood on their ace freshman southpaw's pitches. I don't believe that there was a swinging strike. I was worried that she would be almost unhittable (29-3). She is not.
SIU got six batters on base the initial time through the batting order: five walks, one hit batter and an infield hit. Ryann Orange walked the first two batters that she faces and it's 2-0 with bases loaded and no out. Cal pitching is an enigma. The team cannot win with pitchers that can't throw the ball over the plate. Bears will have to score a bundle to win this opener.
After T2nd, Salukis lead 5-0 with only a single infield hit and seven free passes (1 HBP + 6 BBs). Only Cal can do something like that in the NCAA Tournament. SIU's defense is incredible early and got Mika Lee on a popped-up bunt. I hate these bunts because they take away from the power of our offense.
Hope Alley gets a HUGE hit with a two-run HR to CF. It's 5-3 now. Bears got robbed in the 1st but rally back in the 2nd. Cal has five hits already (only one infield) and should feel confident going forward.
I'm a bit worried about Randi Roelling because SIU hit three consecutive fly balls off of her.
SIU has made three terrific defensive plays while Cal has made none. Why is Kaylee Pond not playing LF like she has all season. She is great on those diving catches that Hope Alley just missed. Bears will not win if they don't raise their level of play. T4th, two Salukis on base w/ no outs. One out now with a pop up to 1B.
Acacia Anders pops out to the catcher and Elon Butler swings at a pitch a foot outside to become the first strikeout victim of the day. Kaylee Pond follows with another k. Their lefty ace is taking back control on the game.
Both pitchers had great 3rd innings & 4th innings. Bears have gone hitless over the last two frames. Top of the order is coming up in the B5th. Quiroga, Butler & Lee have yet to contribute to Cal's offense. RR is rolling with three straight shutout innings. The offense needs to come alive now!
Maddia Groff has taken over the game and has retired 9 Bear batters in a row. She is throwing a rise ball that Cal hitters can't seem to layoff of. Most often they pop it up. Another great play by SIU defense-their SS made a diving backhanded catch in the hole to rob Tatum Anzaldo. Their exceptional defense and Cal's 9 free passes are the differences in this game. All the runs in this game were scored in the second inning.
How can the 2nd base umpire call Cal's base runner, Mika Lee, out for leaving early with the game on the line in the final out of sixth inning? She is the potential tying run so the ump just decided the outcome of the game. Let the players decide the winner of this game. I will say that Mika Lee has been called for doing that violation earlier this season and the team has committed a bunch of base running miscues all season long.
Randi Roelling was the Cal MVP today pitching six innings of shutout relief. Great job! The Bear's big three homerun hitters [Lagi Quiroga, Elon Butler & Tianna Bell] were all held hitless by frosh LHP Maddia Groff.
