April 3, 2011
BERKELEY, Calif. – Even with Sam Parlich’s ninth home run of the season, the fourth-ranked Sun Devil Softball team didn’t have enough gas in the tank to complete the sweep as they fell 3-2 to the eighth-ranked Cal Bears Sunday afternoon in Berkeley. With the loss Dallas Escobedo moves to 17-2 on the year as the Sun Devils fall to 35-3 on the year and 2-1 in conference play as Cal moves to 22-7 overall and 1-2 in Pac-10 play.
The Sun Devils flipped the switch in game three as they took to the scoreboard first with Talor Haro cracking an RBI single to bring home Kaylyn Castillo and take the 1-0 lead. Things seemed to be falling into place for A State as Sam Parlich pushed the lead in the third inning taking an 0-1 pitch yard for her ninth home run of the season and give ASU a 2-0 lead.
Cal had something to say about it in the fifth inning as Elia Reid gave the Bears a spark with a solo shot to center field which laid the ground work for Ashley Decker’s single up the middle which was brought home by Frani Echavarria’s RBI hit up the middle to knot it at two apiece.
While Jolene Henderson proved adept at keeping the Sun Devil bats at bay to push it to a pitchers duel, Dallas Escobedo came in for some relief work in the fifth inning for Mackenzie Popescue where she kept ASU in it until the seventh where Cal loaded the bases to bring up Jordan Wallace who’s patience paid off as she pulled a walk to bring home the deciding run and close out the game.
The Sun Devils will remain on the road next weekend as Pac-10 play continues in Eugene, Ore. as ASU sets to face the Oregon Ducks next Friday through Sunday in a three game series.