May 16, 1997
Fresno State Defeats Cal in NCAA Softball First-Round Game
FRESNO, Calif. -- Amanda Scott tossed a three-hitter and top-seeded Fresno State took advantage of a pair of California miscues as the Bulldogs defeated the fourth-seeded Golden Bears, 7-0, in the first round of the NCAA Regional Friday.
Cal (34-25) will play No. 2 seed Cal State Northridge (34-21-2) in an elimination game Saturday at 3:30 p.m., while Fresno State (50-12) advances to the winner's bracket game against third-seeded Long Beach State (44-18-1). If the Bears win, they will face the loser of the Fresno State-Long Beach State game at 6 p.m. Saturday in the double-elimination tournament.
"I thought Fresno State came out very aggressive tonight and played a very good game," said Cal head coach Diane Ninemire. "Unfortunately for Cal, I thought we were our of sync defensively and up at the plate. When we had runners in scoring position, we just could not get a timely hit."
Fresno State broke on top in the second inning on a two-run single by shortstop Randi Berg. Catcher Catalina Chavez began the rally when she was hit by a pitch by Cal's Holly Yost. After third baseman Trina Puckett singled to left field, Berg smashed a hard ground that bounced off Cal first baseman Melanie McCart. When the ball rolled into center field, both runners scored.
The Bears threatened in the top of the third inning, but could not score. After catcher Megumi Takasaki singled and two walks loaded the bases with two out, Yost flied out to center field to end the inning.
The Bulldogs increased their lead in the bottom of the third to 6-0. Center fielder Laura Berg led off with a double. She came around to score on a throwing error by Cal third baseman Jessica Parker on Robin Yorke's sacrifice bunt. First baseman Angela Cervantez followed with a single and Chavez doubled home Yorke. After Cervantez scored on a wild pitch, Chavez scored on a fielding error by Parker on Puckett's two-hop grounder.
In the sixth inning, Randi Berg tripled to right-center field and scored when Yost was called for an illegal pitch, giving Fresno State a 7-0 lead.
Yost, who fell to 27-20 on the year, gave up 9 hits and struck out 4.
In the first game, Tammy Dietrich tossed a six-hitter and Tiffany Blood hit a two-run single in the top of the seventh inning to lead third-seeded Long Beach State to a 3-0 victory over second seed Cal State Northridge.
NCAA Softball Regional at Fresno, CA
First Round
California 000 000 0 -- 0 3 2
Fresno State 024 001 X -- 7 9 0
Yost (27-20) and Takasaki. Scott (17-3) and Chavez.
Long Beach State 3, Cal State Northridge 0
Records
California (34-25)
Fresno State (50-12)
Long Beach State (44-18-1)
Cal State Northridge (34-21-2)
