Cal Runs Away Late In Series Finale, 9-5

Sunday, April 26

Berkeley, CA

12:00 PM

University of Washington

37-13, 0

California

34-13, 0

Washington

CAL

April 26, 2015 | Softball

Box Score

By: Washington Athletics

BERKELEY, Calif. – No. 20 Cal scored late in the game Sunday afternoon to pick up a win over No. 18 Washington, breaking open a one-run contest with a three-run sixth inning homer to defeat the Huskies, 9-5.

Washington falls to 37-13 overall on the season with its loss, 8-9 in the Pac-12. Cal improves to 34-13 with its win, 7-11 in the conference.

The Huskies tallied 11 hits in the game and has now posted double-digit hits in 27 games this season. Senior Kylee Lahners, sophomore Ali Aguilar and freshman Trysten Melhart each recorded two hits in the contest to lead the offense. Aguilar had a team-high two RBI.

Washington took the game's first lead, jumping out to an early 2-0 lead in the first frame. Lahners worked the count full before eventually reaching on an illegal pitch to open the game. One out later, Aguilar blasted her second home run of the series well over the bleachers in right-center to give the Huskies the early advantage. With that homer, Aguilar now has 14 on the season.

Cal threatened in the bottom half of the inning, reaching second base on an infield pop up that was lost in the sun. That batter eventually advanced to third off a groundout, but she was left stranded as another groundout ended the inning.

The Bears went on to plate four runs in the bottom of the second to erase the Husky lead. After a solo home run made it a 2-1 game, Cal took advantage of a hit-by-pitch and a walk to put runners at first and second. With two outs in the inning, sophomore Casey Stangel entered the game in relief of Washington starter Kristin Cochran. Cal then hit a double to tie the game and with a runner at second and third, a single through the right side gave the Bears a 4-2 edge.

A solo home run in the third gave Cal a 5-2 lead and the Huskies made their second pitching change of the game, bringing in junior Hailey Bator. With no outs in the inning, Cal drew a walk, but Bator worked out of the inning unscathed, inducing a pop up and a pair of groundouts to end the frame.

The Huskies came storming back in the top of the fourth, scoring three runs to lock the game at 5-5. Stangel started the rally, drawing a walk to lead off the inning and a sac-bunt by junior Kimberlee Souza advanced her into scoring position. Senior Kelli Suguro picked up RBI number 31 of the season as her hit to left field scored Stangel. After the ball got away from the left fielder, Suguro advanced to second and later scored off Melhart's single up the middle. Freshman Taylor Van Zee continued the rally, hitting a single to load the bases but the Huskies were unable to bring any more runs across.

The Bears took back the lead in the bottom of the fourth, hitting back-to-back infield singles and scoring off a hit up the middle to go up, 6-5.

Washington continued to fight, putting a pair on in the top of the fifth. Souza hit a single in the gap and one out later, Melhart tallied her second hit of the day but the two were left stranded. In the bottom half of the frame, senior Kasey Stanchek entered the circle for the Huskies to pitch the remainder of the game.

Cal added to their lead in the sixth, reaching on an error and a bunt before hitting a three-run home run to go on top, 9-5.

Down to their final outs, Souza drew a lead off walk in the seventh but the Huskies lined into a double play to end the game as Cal took game three of the series, 9-5.

Washington is back in action next weekend, hosting Oregon State for a three-game series Friday-Sunday (May 2-4).