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Date Posted: 10:14:13 02/04/02 Mon
Author: Jon Ralston
Subject: Softball pounds #5 Cal

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Originally Published Monday, February 4, 2002
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Tigers maul fifth-ranked Cal

By Lori Gilbert

Record Staff Writer

The final concrete for the new outfield fence at Bill Simoni Field -- the fence that senior pitcher Cindy Ball said makes University of the Pacific's softball team feel like they're not baby Tigers any more -- was poured on Saturday.

On Sunday, freshman third baseman Kristen Allen, who chose Guns 'N Roses' "Welcome to the Jungle" as the song to be played when she comes to bat, proved how right Ball was, initiating the permanent fence by blasting a fifth-inning solo home run over it to set the 18th-ranked Tigers on their way to a 4-0 win over fifth-ranked Cal.

"I was just thinking about running to first and I heard everyone cheering so I thought maybe it was a double," said Allen, who didn't watch it go. "I was just concentrating on running. I'm not the fastest kid out there."

"But you can hit," Ball said.

Yes, she can. And her home run, coupled with Ball's steady performance in the circle, were the keys to the Tigers' season-opening upset in front of about 400 funs on a sunny, brisk day.

Well, those and coach Brian Kolze's eagle eye from the bench.

Cal's Chelsea Spencer was at first with one out in the fourth when Jessica Pamanian launched a shot to center that Estee Okumura had to track to her left. Okumura battled the sun, caught up with the ball and momentarily made the catch. But the ball popped loose.

Spencer, who had rounded second, headed back to first when she saw Okumura make the catch, but reversed her course when the ball dropped. But Spencer failed to touch second base as she headed for third the second time. Kolze and the home plate umpire were apparently the only two people to see the miss, but Kolze's appeal and the umpire's call resulted in Spencer being called out.

The reversal seemed to deflate the Bears (2-1), who never threatened again.

All-American pitcher Jocelyn Forest, locked in a scoreless battle with Pacific All-American Ball, got a quick out in the fifth, then turned and watched Allen's shot sail over the left-field fence.

Forest walked a pair before getting out of the fifth, then was chased in the sixth after giving up back-to-back one-out doubles to Barbara Moody and Okumura that pushed the Tigers' lead to 2-0.

Reliever Kelly Anderson gave up a single to Ball, then walked four consecutive batters to push in two more runs before Jen Deering relieved and ended the rally.

"I know the other side of that and it sucks,'' Ball said of being a starting pitcher watching from the bench as the game unravels.

She didn't let that happen, although she had to pitch out of jams in the first two innings and then the dicey fourth.

"I was a little nervous," Ball said. "It was the first game of the year, the first game of my last season."

And she was surrounded by a new supporting cast, but that didn't concern her, she said.

"They were awesome,'' Ball said. "They were talking to me the whole time. When I walked someone, they said, 'We've got your back.'"

Ball walked six and struck out just four while allowing three hits, but she and her Tiger defense preserved the shutout, the 31st of Ball's Pacific career, which ties her atop the all-time list with her predecessor, Brandee McArthur.

To reach reporter Lori Gilbert, phone 546-8284 or e-mail lgilbert@recordnet.com

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