(Berkeley, CA) The first trip to Berkeley in five years for Sun Devil softball saw California take the series opener 4-3. The lead traded sides three times before the Golden Bears (21-7-1, 3-3-1 Pac-12) used a two-run fifth to end the Sun Devils’ four-game winning streak in the series.
Arizona State (17-9, 1-3 Pac-12) never settled in at the plate with just two hits and none after the fourth inning. They were able to keep the game close behind the pitching staff forcing Cal into nine left on base.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Yanni Acuña opened the game with a solo home run to right center leading off the top of the first for an ASU 1-0 lead.
Cal answered with a single and a homer to start the bottom of the inning to take a 2-1 lead after one.
ASU tied the game in the third by taking advantage of two Cal errors and a passed ball.
Makenna Harper led off the fourth with a single, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on an error to put the Sun Devils in front 3-2.
The Bears took the lead back in the fifth after a walk, hit by pitch and passed ball set up a two-run single.
After coming on in relief of Mac Osborne, Kenzie Brown struck out five over two scoreless innings in the circle.
NOTABLE
The leadoff home run from Acuña was her fourth first-inning leadoff homer this season.
Acuña now has 148 hits and 96 RBIs in her career.
It was her fourth appearance this season with five strikeouts for Brown.
Brown moved her career strikeout total to 96.
ASU lost for the first time this season when leading after four innings after starting 12-0 in that situation.
The loss marks the third straight weekend ASU has lost the first game of the weekend.
UP NEXT
ASU and Cal will play game two of the weekend series on Saturday at 2 p.m. The game can be watched on Pac-12 Arizona and the Pac-12 Now app.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Josh Fisher
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