CATHEDRAL CITY – The California softball team dropped a pair of games to open the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic after dropping contests to No. 19 Oregon (5-4) and Cal State Fullerton (7-4) on Thursday at the Big League Dreams Complex in Cathedral City, Calif.
The Golden Bears fell to 6-4 on the season despite tallying three homers on the day, including two from Lagi Quiroga, who now has a team-high five this season.
Game 1: Cal – 4 | No. 19 Oregon – 5
Quiroga gave the Bears an early lead after a lead off solo home run to left center in the first at-bat of the game. With a runner on third, Tianna Bell executed a sacrifice fly to tack on another run in the opening inning. The Ducks quickly responded in the button half of the first inning by scoring three runs, including an RBI double and a two-run home run, to take a 3-2 lead.
Cal evened the score in the third inning after Acacia Anders knocked in a base hit to bring a runner across home plate, forcing the Ducks into a pitching change. Later in the frame, Oregon reclaimed the lead due to a two-RBI triple.
In the fourth inning, Alyssa Herrera notched her second home run of the season to bring the Bears within one. Miranda De Nava took the mound and held the Ducks scoreless for the remainder of the game. De Nava pitched three innings, earning two strikeouts and surrendering three hits and one walk.
The Bears had a game-tying run at second base with two outs in the top of the seventh but couldn’t capitalize as the Ducks held on to the victory.
