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Staff
Monday April 29, 2002

Errors help Bears beat UW  

 

An error-filled fourth inning decided the outcome of Sunday’s game between the sixth-ranked Golden Bears and No. 8 Washington. Cal (45-16, 9-6 Pac-10) scored three runs in the bottom half of the fourth inning to defeat the Huskies (39-15, 8-7 Pac-10), which scored two runs in the top of the frame.  

Senior pitcher Jocelyn Forest dominated the game as she struck out a season-best 17 batters, just one strikeout short of matching her career-high. The 2001 All-American walked four batters and scattered four hits, but was not tabbed with the pair of runs scored by UW as a result of a Cal fielding error.  

Becky Simpson came to the plate for the Huskies in the fourth inning with the bases loaded and hit a high pop up to shallow right field. Junior Kristen Morley misplayed the ball as she saw freshman Jessica Pamanian also coming out to play the pop up. Both players failed to make a play, allowing two runs to scorer on the miscue.  

But the Bears would get those runs back, and more, as they scored three in their half of the fourth inning. Morley walked to lead off the frame. Senior Candace Harper then reached on a fielder’s choice while both runners advanced another base as a result of Husky shortstop Jaime Clark’s errant throw to second. With first base empty and slugger Veronica Nelson up to bat, UW intentionally walked the junior All-American, bringing up junior Courtney Scott. Scott hit a solid liner to center that was snagged by Rita Roach, who threw to Clark to double up Harper at second.  

With two outs and the bases loaded, again, after a walk to Pamanian, Spencer reached on an error by third baseman Fiske. The play scored Morley from third, who was running on contact. Jessica Vernaglia, pinch running for Nelson, scored when the right fielder, backing up Fiske’s throw to first, made an errant throw home. The play scored two more runs, including the eventual game-winner as Pamanian crossed the plate.  

Forest collected her conference-leading 16th double-digit strikeout performance of the year, along with her season-high strikeout total. The win also marked her fourth 20-win season - the only other Cal pitcher besides Michele Granger, to do so in the history of the program.  

With the win, the Bears regain sole possession of third place in the conference standings, while the Huskies drop back into fourth place.  

Cal prepares to travel to the Arizona schools next week with one game against No. 2 Arizona Friday at 7 p.m. and a two-game set with No. 5 Arizona State, Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.  

 

Bears win 11 events at Cal Open  

 

In its final tune-up for this week’s Big Meet, Cal won a combined 11 events at its own Cal Open Saturday at Edwards Stadium. The Bear women claimed six victories at the non-scored meet.  

The highlight of the meet for Cal was senior Bubba McLean winning the pole vault with a season-best mark of 17’7” on his final attempt. That mark moved him up on this year’s NCAA provisional qualifying list.  

Coming off her NCAA qualifying performance in the 800-meters at last week’s Mount SAC Relays, Cal senior Erin Belger won the 1500 on Saturday by over a second in 4:33.20. Also victorious for the Cal women were sophomore Jenna Johnson in the shot put (46’3.25”), junior DeCola Groce in the 100-meter dash (12.22), sophomore Stephanie Cowling in the 400 hurdles (62:29), freshman Jennifer Ladouceur in the discus (PR and Pac-10 qualifier: 158’9”) and freshman Trinety White in the triple jump (39’8”). Ladouceur’s previous best in the discus was 145-0.  

On the men’s side, Cal won three of the four throwing events - junior Joe Berro with a personal best of 213’0” in the javelin, sophomore Amin Nikfar in the shot put (54’3.75”) and sophomore Tony Miranda in the discus (162’10”). Tyler Noesen was the only Bear male to win a running event, claiming the 3000-meter steeplechase (9:40.77). 

Many Cal athletes competed in events that weren’t their specialties in an effort to be prepared for the May 4 meet with Stanford, where every point will have an impact. The hammer kicks off the Big Meet at Cal beginning at 10:30 a.m.  

 

Men’s golf last at Pac-10 

 

CORVALLIS, Ore. - The California men’s golf team placed 10th at the Pac-10 Championships held at Trysting Tree Golf Course on April 25-27. The University of Southern California won the tournament with a four-round 1441 (+1). Cal finished with a 1501 (+61).  

Individually, Cal sophomore Peter Tomasulo tied for 14th place with a 3-over par 291. Stanford’s Jim Seki used a pair of birdies over the final two holes to claim medalist honors. Seki chipped in from atop a greenside mound on No. 18 to post a final-round 74 and fend off USC’s Kevin Stadler and teammate Philip Rowe.