Texas Tech Athletics
California
Texas Tech Tops No. 22 California 2-0
February 21, 2016 | Softball
Mattison Maisel throws first career complete game shutout to power Texas Tech past No. 22 California.
Feb. 20, 2016
SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Texas Tech softball (4-5) topped No. 22 California (5-2), 2-0, in the second half of Saturday's double header at the 2016 Campbell/Cartier Classic at SDSU Softball Stadium."I am proud of our kids," said Texas Tech head softball coach Adrian Gregory. "We didn't come into this game feeling sorry for ourselves or beating ourselves up from our first day here. To go out and compete in every at-bat and in every pitch was great to see."
The win marked the first time the Red Raiders defeated a ranked opponent at a neutral site since beating a 12th-ranked California team on Feb. 12, 2011. Saturday's result also marked the first time a Texas Tech team shut out an opponent since blanking the Longhorns, 4-0, on March 25, 2015.
Texas Tech put pressure on the Bears throughout the game, beginning with a bases loaded, one out situation in the second. Unfortunately, that particular opportunity was stumped by a force out at home followed by a foul out to Cal's third baseman to end the inning.
The Red Raiders threatened again in the third, loading the bases with two outs. This time, Cal went to the bullpen calling on Kristin Cullen to record the final out. Cullen answered the bell getting a strikeout to douse the threat and keep the score tied 0-0 heading into the fourth.
The Bears would move a runner into scoring position in both the fifth and sixth but were stymied by junior hurler Mattison Maisel and the stout Tech defense. The Red Raiders finally capitalized in the sixth with a pair of singles and a walk that loaded the bases with no outs.
Following a huge strikeout for the inning's first out, Jordan Bettiol came through with the play of the game, dropping a bunt just out of reach of the Cal first baseman. Susan Welborn scored on the bunt followed by Brooke Scott who also came around to give Texas Tech a 2-0 lead.
Maisel retired the Bears in order in the seventh to preserve the victory and her first complete game shutout.
"Words can't begin to describe how happy I am for Mattison," added Gregory. "To shut down Cal who is known to hit and swing it is incredible for her. She came out and hit her spots and didn't get uncomfortable. She just owned the ballpark and that was really fun to see."
With the win, Tech improved to 2-3 all-time against the Bears including two-straight victories for the Red Raiders. The win also gave Tech its first win over a top-25 team in the 2016 season and marked the first win for Tech against a ranked team since April 12, 2015.
