Pac-12

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.

This weekend, Cal traveled to Utah and Colorado to begin Pac-12 play. Going 1-1, the Bears played two impressive matches to improve their overall season record to 4-5.

This weekend will be a great test for the No.12 ranked Bears who have the ability to compete with any team in the country.

Cal is set to face both Miami (Ohio) and Villanova twice this weekend at the DeMarini Invitational before taking on UC Davis.

Following their match against San Diego, the Bears will then immediately high-tail it over to La Jolla to play in the Pacific Coast Doubles Championships, facing competitors like No. 3 Michigan, No. 8 USC and No. 24 Stanford.

No. 8 Utah exhibited its nationally ranked prowess, handling the Bears forcefully from the get-go to the tune of a 101-76 thumping. Saturday afternoon in Boulder, the blue and gold capped off their regular season with a sour taste, falling 69-95 against the Buffs.

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

Sometimes the end is disappointing, and while fans may feel that way about the Friday meet, it was a beautiful end and a very deserved Ute victory.

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.

Numbers tell meaningful stories. Let’s consider Cal’s Saturday away meet against Utah — two teams whose numbers divulge stories of strength, improvement and skill. These numbers can tell you many things.