May 17, 2001

Box Score

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Second-seeded California got fine pitching performances from junior Jocelyn Forest and senior Nicole DiSalvio as the Golden Bears defeated fifth-seeded Connecticut, 2-0, in the first round of its NCAA Regional. The Bears next face the winner of the Florida vs. Florida Atlantic game Friday afternoon. With the win, Cal improves to 50-15 on the year, just one victory shy of tying its most wins in school history. The Huskies fell to 35-22 with the loss.

The Bears jumped out to an early one-run lead in the second inning. After a fly out by sophomore Veronica Nelson, Cal sophomore Eryn Manahan singled for the first hit of the game. Sophomore Courtney Scott then reached on a fielder's choice, followed by a single by senior Amber Phillips, sending Scott to second. Sophomore Mikella Pedretti then broke the scoreless tie with a single to right-center field, scoring Scott from second.

Cal added to its lead in the fourth with an unearned run. With two outs and Scott and Phillips on third and second, respectively, sophomore Kristen Morley grounded to the shortstop, who mishandled the ball, allowing Scott to score the second Bear run.

Forest started for Cal and went the first 3.1 innings (two hits and three strikeouts) before leaving the game with soreness in her back. DiSalvio closed the game out to earn the win and improve to 19-7 on the year. She allowed just two hits with a strikeout.

Barb Cook went the distance for the Huskies in the circle and takes the loss to fall to 18-11. She allowed two runs (one earned) and six hits.

Phillips had two hits on the day to lead the Bears offensive attack.

"Our team came through in a couple of clutch situations," said Cal head coach Diane Ninemire. "We had two good pitching performances from Forest and DiSalvio that shut down the other team and held them scoreless. They (UConn) played some tough defense and only allowed us two runs."

The Bears next game is at 5:30 p.m. ET (2:30 p.m. PT).

Game 1, NCAA Regional
Seminole Softball Complex, Tallahassee, FL.
	        1  2  3   4  5  6   7   R  H  E
Connecticut	0  0  0   0  0  0   0   0  4  2
California	0  1  0   1  0  0   X   2  6  1
Pitching: Cal: Forest, DiSalvio (4) and Scott, UConn: Cook and Bigos
WP: DiSalvio (19-7)	LP: Cook (18-11)	Save: None