April 13, 2003

Box Score

TUCSON - Crystal Farley's slap single over the pitcher's head scored the only run in the game as top-ranked Arizona beat No. 6 California, 1-0, in college softball Sunday.

The hit capped a pitching duel between California's Kelley Anderson and Arizona's Wendy Allen.

Neither team mustered much offense through five innings, with the Cats getting singles from Lovie Jung and Autumn Champion and Cal center fielder Kaleo Eldredge collecting a single.

Arizona blew a solid opportunity in the sixth. Courtney Fossatti beat out an infield slap hit and Lovie Jung followed with a double to open the inning. But Fossatti was picked off third by Cal catcher Courtney Scott. Mackenzie Vandergeest walked, but was forced by Jackie Coburn's ground ball, and second baseman Eryn Manahan caught Jung in a third-home rundown to end the inning with a double play.

California had a similar chance in the top of the seventh, putting runners on second and third after a couple of hits by Manahan and Chelsea Spencer, but Allen got two ground-ball outs to end the inning.

Allen walked to lead off the UA seventh, moved to second on a sacrifice by Lisha Ribellia and to third on a ground ball by Erin Palomarez to set up Farley's chop single.

Arizona improved to 39-4 overall and 8-1 in league play. The Golden Bears dropped to 34-12 and 4-5. Allen improved to 11-1 and Anderson dropped to 14-6.