Haylei Archer and Tatum Anzaldo led the Bears to a 6-0 victory over the Hornets, snapping a five-game losing streak. Cal will now shift its focus to the Wildcats, where it will look to secure its first Pac-12 series win.
Tailing at the wrong end of a series sweep to the rival Cardinal, Cal returned to form and got back in the win column against Sacramento State with a flawless 6-0 victory.
“Every team goes through a little bit of a rut … I think controlling what we can and not trying to control the outcome by thinking too much or doing too much is all we can do,” said Tatum Anzaldo.
In Wednesday’s matchup against the Hornets, the fifth-year infielder was as perfect as one could be with three hits in three plate appearances, two runs scored, one RBI, one walk and three stolen bases.
Through 27 games played, Anzaldo is having one of her best seasons, recording a career-best .471 on-base percentage with highs in walks at 20 and stolen bases at 12. The two-time All-Conference player is also pacing toward setting new career numbers in runs and hits, while working toward a new low in strikeouts.
“I would just say the speed aspect of it. Just putting stolen bases on my resume. Being more dynamic in that department, getting in scoring position sooner for the team,” Anzaldo said when asked about her personal goals prior to the season’s start.
The Whittier local has been everything plus more for head coach Chelsea Spencer. Anzaldo is excelling as a leader and is a multifaceted playmaker. She’s one of Cal’s most versatile players on defense as she is able to play multiple positions, but primarily commands the hot corner.
Being Cal’s longest-serving player, Anzaldo understands what it means to “bleed blue and gold,” and the ability to adapt is a large part of that.
“I’ve always been the person to play wherever coach (Spencer) needed me to, and coach has always instilled that in us — ‘Get in where you fit in’— so whatever the team needs, even if it's a bullpen catcher, I’ll be the first one to offer up my body for sure,” Anzaldo said. “I do enjoy third (base), it’s fun. There's a lot of action. Same thing with first (base), I was in every play because you catch it every time. Wherever (Spencer) wants me, it's part of the starting nine and I’m grateful.”
Anzaldo’s efforts and versatility have served the Bears well, leading to a 22-7 record, but fellow senior Haylei Archer has also been having her own noteworthy season.
Archer is coming off a game against Sacramento State where she pitched her second complete shutout of the season and tied her season-high six strikeouts. The senior pitcher currently leads the Cal bullpen with lows in ERA (2.37), runs (19), home runs (one) and ranks second in walks (19), hits (44) and strikeouts (36).
Despite a heavy workload from both seniors, Cal finds itself 2-5 over its last seven games after a 20-2 start to the season.
Having yet to secure a series win over any Pac-12 opponent — Cal possesses a 1-5 conference record — the Bears will look to grasp their first conference home stand with the Arizona Wildcats.
“I think it's just using (the win over Sacramento State) as momentum and taking everything pitch by pitch, small win by small win. You show up on time — small win. You get your butt out there, try hard at practice and you look at yourself in the mirror and (tell yourself) ‘You gave it your best’ and it's a small win.”
Statistically speaking, the Bears and Wildcats are evenly matched. Arizona ranks second in the Pac-12 in runs with 171 and hits at 238 with Cal right behind them at 168 and 236, respectively. However, the blue and gold hold an advantage in home runs with 41 and stolen bases with 39.
The series will begin Friday at 3 p.m. with Cal looking to defend home field at Levine-Fricke Field.
Comments