Joaquin Ruiz

Despite just winning one of three contests, the blue and gold snapped a decade-long losing streak to their Southern Californian rival in a rainy thriller.

Cal has the opportunity to make a statement to the softball community with wins versus one of the better programs in the nation. The Bears, who enter the heavyweight bout as winners of their last three, must continue to rely on the trust within the clubhouse to play their best game — a theme echoed throughout the season.

Cal finished the tournament undefeated. The blue and gold also extended their winning streak to an impressive nine games.

The confidence and production on both offense and defense has been integral to Cal’s strong start to the season. So far, the Bears have defeated every opponent they’ve come across — a powerful sign that maturity and resilience are evident in the clubhouse.

Softball in Berkeley has been the real deal to begin the year. The blue and gold have stacked up wins against every team they’ve faced and are yet to play a game on their home field.

Cal dominated in the batter’s box. The Bears posted 54 runs throughout the tournament, giving the team an average of nine runs per game.

With the cutoff of Feb. 9 fast approaching, the Daily Californian Sports staff offers its opinions on the NBA trade deadline.

The Bears, who finished last season with a record of 28-27-1, will take on San Diego, Loyola Marymount, Cal State Fullerton and Utah State in the 2023 edition of the tournament.

Hoping to rebound from recent losses, the Bears had high hopes for their games against UCLA and USC. After two more losses, however, Cal now sits at a league-worst 16-loss streak.

The tandem adds to the youth movement in the East Bay, where Cal (7-17) sports only one senior – opposite Sydney Lilomaiava.