Iowa State is hot, winning three consecutive games here in Long Beach to even their record at 4-4. The Cyclones defeated Oregon State, Long Beach State & Southern Utah.
Acacia Anders connects for her 1st hit of the season, a double, to drive in Mia Phillips with the first run of the game. Frosh RHP Miranda De Nava has a run to work with after one inning. She does her job with a 3 up, 3 down shutdown inning.
Kaylee Pond leads off the second against her former team, Iowa State. She singles to RF and subsequently steals second. ISU's Ralston must have a good changeup because she has struck out Quiroga, Bell & Herrera looking on two strike counts in the first 2 innings. Mika Lee HBP. Nailyn Marshall doubles to left field to drive in two. Clutch hit needed desperately by the offense. Bears 3, Cyclones 0. Marshall picked off of third base by Iowa State's catcher. Lagi Quiroga follows with a single to left-center field that would have plated another run IF Cal would simply be more prudent on the bases.
Miranda retires the side in order, again, in the T3rd. Kaylee Pond gets another single to RF that brings home Elon Butler with run #4. Pinch runner D'Auna Johnson had pinch run for Tianna Bell and was thrown out stealing. She would have scored ahead of Butler for a fifth run. Unbelievable.
De Nava does it again (1-2-3) in the T4th. Iowa State brings in their best pitcher, RHP Lauren Schurman (2.00 ERA).
Trouble brewing in the T5th, with a single, a walk & an error by second base, Mia Phillips, with one out. Iowa State has a chance to get back into this game now. Miranda bears down and escapes damage.
Jessie Clemons homers for ISU with 2 down in the T6th to make the score 4-1. Schurman finishes her third inning of work without yielding a hit.
Miranda De Nava hurls a complete game, 4-1. She gave up only 1 run on 3 hits while walking one. Her record is now 3-1 with a 1.70 ERA. Frosh, De Nava, is Cal's one legit starting pitcher that has stepped forward
early in the season.
Cal's pitching actually did an excellent job in this three-game series but the offense was on the quiet side. The Bears went without a homerun and scored only 2, 3 & 4 runs in the sweep of the opposition. Base running was horrific and the infield defense was improved but only ok. GO BEARS!