BERKELEY – Instinctive offense from California's leadoff hitter Jazmyn Jackson and strong pitching from Zoe Conley led to a solid 6-2 comeback win over Notre Dame to open NCAA Regional play at Auburn on Friday.
 
The win was highlighted by Jackson's two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth inning that brought home Krysten McCue and cemented a three-score frame for Cal to move ahead 5-2. After drawing a walk to, Vanessa Alvarez stole second base and was brought home on an RBI double from McCue.
 
Despite giving up a run in the top of the first and second innings, the Bears (31-22) stayed within one run and tied things up twice before taking the lead for the remainder of the game in the fourth frame.
 
"This was a tremendous game today. That's a great team in Notre Dame," said Cal head coach Diane Ninemire.
"We had a tremendous performance from Jazmyn and Zoe. A two-hitter by Conley and a great game by Jackson and great base running by the team to really lead us to a victory today."
 
Jackson, who led the game with three hits and three runs, scored both tying runs to keep Notre Dame from pulling away. On both occasions, the junior found the plate on RBI sacrifice flies from Lindsay Rood.
 
Rood's generosity paid off as she made her way around the bases to score on a fielding error to close scoring in the bottom of the fifth.
 
Conley, in her first postseason appearance as a Bear, gave up just two hits to stall the Fighting Irish offensively. She delivered seven strikeouts in a complete game effort, one shy of her single-game record.
 
Things didn't start off easy for the Bears. Cal overcame three critical errors in the early innings, two which allowed Notre Dame to score, to complete a five-run swing in the bottom of the fifth.
 
Cal will face Auburn, who blanked East Tennessee State 11-0, at 9 a.m. (PT) on Saturday in the programs second all-time matchup. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2. 
 
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