The Bears are making history on the diamond, coming out of the dugout in the most competitive fashion since their 2018 season. The stakes are high for Cal — it has asserted its dominance this season in countless games and has shown that a seven-game winning streak is well within its range of abilities. 

After coming off of the DeMarini Invitational this past weekend, Cal bounced back into action Wednesday against Pacific for the second game on the Levine-Fricke Field in 2022. No matter how drained the Bears were following a weekend of conquering four games in a row, their exhaustion was replaced with adrenaline, and their soreness was replaced with power.

Wednesday’s game had a slow start to it on both sides. Freshman pitcher Annabel Teperson started on the mound and held Pacific for the initial two innings. With two scoreless innings, the Bears and Tigers were holding each other at a deadlock. However, the Tigers came hot at the top of the third inning, and at the crack of the bat, the Tigers pulled ahead with one run.

In this previously scoreless game, the Tigers triggered the Bears and unleashed their power. After Pacific pulled ahead, Cal knew it was time to put its skill into high gear and begin launching the ball into the outfield at the bottom half of the third.

In an unexpected turn of events, the Bears stole the show and earned four runs in the third, once again gaining dominance and control over the Tigers. The progression of events was sparked by sophomore Tatum Anzaldo’s middle infield single, to which she scored on an ingenious bunt laid down by freshman Acacia Anders. On Anders’ bunt, Anzaldo scored the first run tying the game. Sophomore Alexis Bishop sent a lined shot to right center, sending herself into second base and Anders into home. 

With the following at-bat resulting in a walk, the Bears had players on first and second, with sophomore Sophie Medellin awaiting a fastball down the middle. In the perfect sequence, Medellin slammed the ball to left, earning an RBI single. Sophomore Kennedy Thomas joined the RBI club as she laid down a single. 

The Tigers did not know that Bears are officially out of hibernation: The third inning was a wake-up call.

In the following innings, sophomore Haylei Archer stepped up to the mound and pitched a flawless five innings. As the relief, she only gave up five hits, none of them scoring.

Archer’s middle infield backup supported her flawlessly, with two double plays between Anders and Anzaldo holding Pacific to a one-run game.

The final score of Wednesday’s game was 5-1, favoring the Bears. This win added onto their six-game winning streak, cranking it up to seven.

With multiple consecutive wins under Cal’s belt, the Bears have a promising horizon sneaking up upon them, including the San Diego Classic this upcoming weekend.

Beginning March 4, Cal will face off against Boston University, the first of five teams — Boston University, San Diego State, Brigham Young, San Diego and UC San Diego — the Bears will play against this weekend.

The hopes are high for Cal to maintain its winning streak and only add to its 13-3 record in a positive manner.

With the momentum the Bears are currently harnessing, they have the potential to make this season groundbreaking.

Maybe it will be history in the making, too.