IU Falls Just Short Against No. 21 Cal, 7-6

Sunday, February 14

Tempe, Ariz.

11:00 AM

Indiana University

2-3

University of California

3-1

Indiana

California

2/14/2016 3:34:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

TEMPE, Ariz. – Despite a three-run fifth inning to tie the game at 6-6, the Indiana Softball team dropped a close battle to No. 21 Cal in the final game of the Kajikawa Classic on Sunday, 7-6.

Indiana started off strong as sophomore Rebecca Blitz singled up the middle to lead off the game. Junior Erin Lehman then reached base as Cal pitcher Katie Sutherland-Finch bobbled her sacrifice bunt attempt to put two on and set up a RBI double by senior Kelsey Dotson to give IU a quick 2-0 advantage.

However, Cal quickly responded in the bottom half of the frame as a one-out double by Krysten McCue scored Jazmyn Jackson. McCue was then brought in on a sacrifice fly by Kobie Pettis to tie the game.

The Golden Bears took the lead in the second as Tauri Pogue led off with a home run to give them a 3-2 lead. McCue then picked up her second RBI of the day on a single through the right side to score Jackson.

Indiana began to inch closer as junior CaraMia Tsirigos knocked her first home run of the season as she sent a solo shot to center to lead off the fourth inning. The homer is the 11^th of her career.

Cal's McCue struck again in the bottom of the frame as she picked up two RBI on a two-out single to right-center to push the lead to 6-3. McCue finished the day 3-for-4 with one run and four RBI.

Indiana did not go quietly as they put up three runs in the fifth to tie up the game at 6-6. Blitz started the rally as she picked up her second hit of the day on a one-out cut to center. Lehman's second hit of the game put two on for senior Shannon Cawley, who pushed one up the middle to score Blitz. One batter later, senior Kelsey Dotson earned a walk to load the bases and Tsirigos brought in her second run of the game on a sacrifice fly to center. The game-tying run came off a single to right by senior Michelle Huber as sophomore Sarah Thompson registered her first run of the year.

The stalemate didn't last past the inning however as Cal scored the game-winning run on an Indiana fielding error.

Freshman Tara Trainer (1-2) took the loss for the Hoosiers, but turned in another impressive outing as she tossed 2.1 innings, giving up just one run on two hits and picking up three strikeouts. For the weekend, Trainer fanned 20 batters in three appearances and 13.1 innings.

Indiana returns to action next weekend as the Hoosiers travel to Miami, Fla. to participate in the Panther Invitational hosted by Florida International University.