Berkeley, Calif. -- Behind a seven-strikeout day from Katie Sutherland-Finch, No. 17 Cal opened its series against Oregon State with a 3-1 win Friday afternoon on Levine-Fricke Field. The Bears improve to 25-6 overall and 3-4 in league play.
Sutherland-Finch offered up one run and five hits without a walk. She was two strikeouts shy of her career-high nine, set against Tennessee earlier this season.
Britt Vonk led the Cal offense with a 2-for-3 day, and Breana Kostreba and Taurie Pogue also added runs for the Bears. Pogue and Kylie Reed hit a pair of doubles in their 1-for-3 performances.
Sutherland-Finch started her fan fest early, striking out one in the first inning before adding another three -- all swinging -- in the top of the second.
After one and a half scoreless innings, the Bears lit up the scoreboard first, scoring two runs on a two-out rally at the bottom of the second. With two away in the inning, Kostreba walked and Pogue brought her in with a loud double off the centerfield wall. The Bears continued their rally when junior Vanessa Alvarez singled to left to score Pogue and give Cal the 2-0 lead.
The Beaversâ lone run came in the fourth on a sac fly by CJ Chirichigno. Sammi Noland led off the inning with a double down the left field line, then advanced on a ground out before Chirichigno hit tabbed a fly ball to left field to bring in Noland for the 2-1 game.
A single to right field in the bottom of the fifth by Vonk set Calâs third run in place. She advanced to second on an error, and capitalized on her speed when Cheyenne Cordes sent a single to left field to take two bases for the 3-2 lead.
