May 12, 2000

Box Score

BERKELEY - Freshman Jennifer Deering hit the first home run of her career in the bottom of the seventh inning to lead the 10th-ranked California softball team to a 1-0 victory over No. 5 Arizona State Friday at Levine-Fricke Field.

With the win, the Bears improved to 45-20 overall and 6-13 in the Pac-10, while ASU fell to 39-17 and 7-12.

Cal had at least one hit in every inning and finished with eight for the game. The only inning the Bears had more than one hit was the fifth, when they got singles from freshman first baseman Veronica Nelson and junior left field Pauline Duenas.

ASU managed just a pair of singles off Cal junior Nicole DiSalvio, who upped her record to 15-9 on the year. The Sun Devils biggest threat came in the top of the seventh inning when they got runners to first and third off a pair of walks and two groundouts. However, DiSalvio struck out pinch hitter Andrea Rodgers to end the threat.

In Cal's half of seventh inning, catcher Courtney Scott lined out to shortstop to lead off the frame. Deering then hit a line drive over the left field fence off ASU pitcher Kirsten Voak. Voak, who saw her record fall to 27-9, struck out seven on the day.

Cal returns to action against No. 2 Arizona Saturday for a 1 p.m. doubleheader. The first game will be televised by Fox Sports Net and will be shown locally in the Bay Area on delay at 4 p.m. ASU also wraps up its regular season Saturday at No. 9 Stanford.