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Bears beat Arizona for first-ever state sweep
On the strength of senior Jocelyn Forest’s one-hit, 15-strikeout performance, the No. 8 Golden Bears upset No. 1 Arizona, 2-1, Sunday afternoon at Levine-Fricke Field, marking the first time California has swept the desert schools in a weekend series dating back to the inception of Pac-10 softball in 1987.
The Bears (42-14, 8-4 Pac-10 also handed Arizona its first back-to-back losses of the season, while Cal remains undefeated (7-0) at home.
For the third consecutive day Cal struck first, as junior Courtney Scott came through in the clutch once again. Freshman Kaleo Eldredge drew a lead off walk to start the first inning and advanced to second on junior Kristen Morley’s conference-leading 22nd sacrifice bunt of the year. Junior Veronica Nelson was intentionally walked for the sixth time this weekend, and Scott came through with a RBI single that dropped into left center.
Forest shut the Wildcats down for the first three innings. After Lovie Jung led off the game with a ground out to second, Forest proceeded to strikeout eight consecutive UA batters, spanning three frames. Jennie Finch evened things up for the Wildcats however, driving a liner over the centerfield fence for the equalizer.
Not to be out done, the Bears answered back in the bottom of the fifth as senior Candace Harper blasted a solo homer, her sixth of the year, over the left field wall for the game-winning run.
Forest pitched seven innings, walking just one and allowing just the solo shot to Finch in addition to her 15 k’s, which marked her 15th double-digit strikeout performance of the season. Jenny Gladding fell to 16-5 on the season as she gave up nine walks and five hits, while striking out nine batters.
The resurgent Bears are now just a half game behind Arizona (41-7, 8-3 Pac-10) and UCLA for first place in the conference. Cal has an opportunity to stay in the hunt for the Pac-10 crown as No. 2 UCLA and No. 9 Washington come into town next week with one game against the Bruins on Friday and a two-game series with the Huskies on Saturday and Sunday.
