May 20, 2001

Box Score

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida State scored two runs in the fourth inning and Leslie Malerich won her fourth game of the regional to lead the Seminoles to a 2-1 victory over Cal in the final round of the NCAA Softball Regional at the Seminole Softball Complex. The Seminoles' victory forced a game 12 which will decide the champion of the regional who will advance to the College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla.

Florida State improved to 58-11 while Cal is now 52-16. Both the Seminoles and the Bears are 4-1 in this double elimination tournament.

Malerich pitched five innings and allowed only one run while striking out three. Jen White-Stokes relieved her in the sixth inning. White-Stokes allowed only one hit and held the Bears scoreless over the final two innings to gain her second save of the season.

Florida State scored its two runs in the fourth inning on three hits. Freshman Jessica van der Linden doubled to lead off the inning and scored on a double by Robyn Gauger. Freshman Skyla Cox, pinch running for Gauger, scored the game-winning run on a two-out single by Monique Marier.

"It was a close ball game and obviously we knew we had to win or our season was over," said Florida State head coach Dr. Joanne Graf. "I'm excited that our kids came through. We scored on kind of a cheap hit, but I'll take it. Anything to get us through to the next game and this one is for all the marbles."

Cal had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning. Pauline Duenas led off the inning and reached base when a Malerich pitch hit her. Duenas advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Candace Harper and scored on a double to left field by Veronica Nelson.

Cal loaded the bases in the top of the seventh on a single and two intentional walks before White-Stokes forced Mikella Pedretti to ground out to the shortstop to end the game.

"We had the opportunities to score," said Cal head coach Diane Ninemiler. "We were not able to execute when we needed to."