The 13th-ranked Arizona softball team handed No. 1 California its first conference loss and and second loss of the season overall with a decisive 8-3 win behind Shelby Babcock’s three-hit complete game.
The Wildcats (29-11, 8-6 Pac-12) notched 13 hits against Golden Bear pitchers Valerie Arioto and Jolene Henderson, who each entered Saturday’s contest with sub-1.20 ERAs; it was the first time a team recorded double-digit hits against California all season. Entering the series, California had been outhit only three times all season; Arizona has now done it twice in the first two contests of the series. Arizona’s 13 hits were its most since a 16-hit outing against San Jose State on March 19, 2011.
Cal had won 15 consecutive games entering the contest, including all 11 of its Pac-12 contests.
In addition to handing Cal its first Pac-12 loss, the Wildcats also gave the Bears their first home loss (7-1) and Arioto her first loss of the season (17-1).
Babcock (15-7) allowed three runs on three hits in her complete-game effort. The sophomore struck out six and walked four.
Arizona touched up California’s pitching duo of Arioto and Henderson for eight runs, the most surrendered by California all season.
Arioto, California’s starter, allowed four runs, three earned, on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings before being relieved by Henderson. Arioto had six strikeouts and two walks in the outing. Henderson pitched the final 1 2/3 innings and allowed four runs on five hits with two strikeouts and a walk.
Arizona’s five-run sixth inning proved to be the difference. Shelby Pendley provided the big blow with a bases-loaded three-run double in the frame.
Chelsea Goodacre and Karissa Buchanan each had as many hits (three) in the game as California’s entire lineup.
Pendley (three), Hallie Wilson (two), Jessica Spigner (one) and Buchanan (one) all tallied at least one RBI in the contest.
The Wildcats got on the board in the second, scoring their first run of the series against Cal. Lini Koria drew a leadoff walk, Goodacre singled and Buchanan singled through the left side to plate Koria from third.
The Cats added to the lead in the third. Brigette Del Ponte singled down the left-field line, Koria drew another walk and Spigner singled up the middle to make it 2-0.
That lead would be erased in the fourth, though. Babcock retired 10 of the first 12 batters she faced, including the first two of the fourth inning, before issuing a two-out walk to Jace Williams. Cal's Breana Kostreba followed with a homer to left to tie the score at 2-2, which is how it stayed until the sixth inning.
In the top of the sixth, Goodacre singled and was replaced by Sam Davis. Arriola then sacrificed Davis to second before Buchanan’s second hit of the game put runners on the corners with one out and chased Arioto in favor of Henderson. Wilson greeted her with a single through the left side to give Arizona a 3-2 lead. Chelsea Suitos then walked to load the bases with one out for Del Ponte, and the junior's grounder to second was booted, allowing another run to score. With the Wildcats ahead 4-2, Pendley, batting in the cleanup spot for the first team all season, doubled the bases clear to make it 7-2.
The Cats added an insurance run in the top of the seventh when Wilson singled home Arriola to extend the lead to 8-2.
In the bottom of the seventh, Cal used a walk, a hit batter and a Frani Echavarria RBI single to make it 8-2, but Babcock got Jamia Reid to ground out to second to end the game.
