Softball

After competing in four NCAA tournament games at the Oklahoma Sooners’ Marita Hynes Field over the weekend, the Bears’ best season since 2018 came to an end.

Cal’s ability to stay consistent against tougher competition will be put to the test against the Missouri Tigers as the quest to become national champions begins.

The Bears have been a team that has shown the ability to fight their way back into games, but a five-run first inning by the Utes was the beginning of the end for Cal.

The sixth-ranked Bears are set to play the third-ranked Utah Utes in the quarterfinals of the first annual Pac-12 softball tournament.

Even though the 33-18-1 Bears will remain in Tucson as the sixth seed facing Utah in the inaugural Pac-12 softball tournament, Cal concluded its regular season on a high note, winning two of three against the Arizona Wildcats.

Cal has a polished resume thus far, winning games against No. 2 UCLA, No. 24 Utah and No. 8 Stanford. The Bears have to take care of business in Tucson but hope to enter the looming “second season” with high spirits and energy.

Despite being on the tail end of its second series sweep to Oregon, Cal manages to still have positive takeaways.

Cal will prepare to defend Levine-Fricke Field once more in a three-game series against the Oregon Ducks.

Although Cal lost the series to its Bay Area rival, the team reached 30 wins for the first time since 2018.

Cal heads to Palo Alto for a three-game series against the No. 8 Stanford Cardinal, which begins Friday.