March 11, 2000

Box Score

SUNNYVALE - The sixth-ranked Cal softball team beat Utah, 4-0, and San Jose State, 6-3, to advance to the semifinals of the National Invitational Softball Tournament Saturday.

In the semifinals Sunday morning, the Bears will face Nebraska, while No. 4 Arizona State will meet Long Beach State.

Saturday, Cal (27-1) blanked Utah in its first game of the day. Junior pitcher Nicole DiSalvio struck out eight and allowed just three hits. The Bears scored three runs in the first inning and added one more in the third.

The only RBI of the game went to third baseman Candace Harper, with the other three runs scoring on errors. Designated player Kristen Morley had three hits at the plate.

Against San Jose State, the Bears jumped out to a 6-0 lead with a single run in the second inning and five more in the fifth. Left fielder Pauline Duenas had a two-run double in the fifth, wile Harper, Morley and Amber Phillips added RBI singles.

Sophomore pitcher Jocelyn Forest did not allow a hit until the sixth inning and settled on a three-hitter, surrendering a three-run homer in the seventh.

By reaching the semis, Cal has a chance to win the NIST for the third year in a row.