The entire umpire crew surrounds Arizona head coach Caitlin Lowe as she reacts after her appeal for a review on a play at first was rejected, ending the Wildcat half of the third against Cal in their Pac 12 softball game at Hillenbrand Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., May 6, 2023.
California left fielder Hope Alley (15) misplays a towering fly ball from Arizonaβs Izzy Pacho (15) allowing a run to score from first in the sixth inning of their Pac 12 softball game at Hillenbrand Stadium., Tucson, Ariz., May 6, 2023.
Arizona left fielder Dakota Kennedy (4) canβt catch up to blast over her head by Calβs Acacia Anders (13) that nearly cleared the fence in the first inning of their Pac 12 softball game at Hillenbrand Stadium., Tucson, Ariz., May 6, 2023.
The Cal softball team jumped on UA early Saturday and held on to win by an 8-6 score for the second consecutive night at Hillenbrand Stadium.
With the loss, UA (27-24, 5-18) fell into last place in the Pac-12 and is assured of playing in the No. 8 vs. No. 9 game β against ASU or Oregon State β on Wednesday in the opening game of the inaugural Pac-12 Tournament at Hillenbrand.
The winner of the 8-9 game has to play a quarterfinal contest against No. 1 seed UCLA β which is 50-4, has a 23-game winning streak and is ranked No. 2 nationally.
The Golden BearsΒ (33-17-1, 9-13-1) scored a run in the first inning, two in the second and three more in the fourth to go up 6-0 Saturday. UA scored three times in the fourth to make it 6-3, but Cal added a pair of runs in the sixth to make it 8-3.
The Wildcats scored twice in the sixth to cut the deficit back to three, then crept closer with a Devyn Netz solo homer in the seventh. But Blaise Biringer grounded out to end the game.
Biringer was 3 for 4, while Netz and Logan Cole each had two hits. Izzy Pacho had a two-run single that got UA on the board in the fourth.
Netz's homer was her team-leading 14th of the season.
Cal leadoff hitter Tatum Anzaldo opened the game with a homer and added a two-run shot in the second to make it 3-0. She finished 3 for 3 with three runs scored and three RBIs.
UA starter Sydney Somerndike (4-2) took the loss, allowing three runs on five hits in two innings.
The teams wrap up the three-game series and the regular season at 2 p.m. Sunday on Pac-12 Arizona.Β
Photos: Arizona gets behind early, can't catch up in 8-6 loss to Cal, Pac 12 softball