NCAA Women's College World Series
Don E. Porter
Hall of Fame Stadium
Oklahoma City, Okla.
Weather: Partly cloudy, windy, upper 60s
Sunday's schedule (All times Central):
Game 11 - Arizona 1 vs. California 2
Game 12 - Texas 0 vs. UCLA 3
Game 13 - Arizona 1 vs. Cal 4
Game 14 - UCLA vs. Texas
Monday's game (CDT):
Championship game - 3:30 p.m.
Game 13: Arizona 1, California 4 -- FINAL
California (49-19) 010 020 1 -- 4-7-1
Arizona (56-7) 010 000 0 -- 1-4-0
Alicia Hallowell (Arizona) and Kelly Anderson (California)
Winning Pitcher: Kelly Anderson (23-11)
Losing Pitcher: Alicia Hallowell (40-5)
With everything to lose and that much more to gain, both Arizona and California scored early. In the top of the second, leadoff batter Kaleo Eldredge hit a home run. In the bottom of the second, Lisah Ribellia hit an RBI double to centerfield that scored leadoff batter Wendy Allen who walked. First baseman Veronica Nelson broke the tie in the top of the fifth with a two-run bomb that put the defending champs up 3-1. The Golden Bears padded the lead in the seventh with an RBI single to left from Chelsea Spencer. The Wildcats were unable to put anymore runs on the board in the seventh and the defending champs found themselves in the championship game for the second year in a row.
Arizona was eliminated and California advances to the championship game to be played at 3:30 p.m.
WHAT THEY SAID
"I thought this was the greatest day in the Cal season. To knock off the No. 1 team in the nation was amazing. Kelly (Anderson) threw with all her heart. I'm very proud. We got timely hits with runners in scoring position. I think our hitters became more patient. Our hitting in the last two weeks has really come on strong. It feels wonderful to be in the championship game. I'm really proud of the players and we're ready to play."
"It's pretty tiring (to play two marathon games in one day). We just have to go out (tomorrow) and give 100 percent."
"I'm surprised they pitched to me. I just came in prepared. It's pretty frustrating (to get walked so much), but when you get that many walks I just have to remember that my team will come through."
"It was a tough day. My hat's off to Cal. They came in and competed well. They got the job done when they needed to. I wouldn't take them lightly if I were anyone. Alicia gave it everything she had. I'm very proud of them. These kids improved on a day to day basis (since the beginning of the season). We couldn't quite get our offense going. We were slow at making adjustments. It was a tough decision to pitch to Veronica (Nelson). We tried to pitch around her, but it didn't quite happen that way. We did the same thing in the first game and we got her. She's a tough hitter."
"Obviously it had a little effect. I thought we came out and did what we needed to do in the second game."
"I was a little tired, but not enough for it to be an excuse."
Go to NCAA Championships for the complete Women's College World Series schedule, including television coverage.
