March 14, 1998

SUNNYVALE -- In a that day lasted from 8 a.m. and until after 11 p.m., the 22nd-ranked Cal softball team won all four games Saturday to advance to the championship game of the National Invitational Softball Tournament.

Cal capped its effort with a 2-0 victory over No. 8 Arizona State late Saturday night, giving the Bears (14-9) a perfect 5-0 mark in the tournament.

After a 5:30 a.m. wake-up call, the Bears began Saturday with an 8 a.m. game against Akron and came away with a 4-1 victory. Pitchers Whitney Floyd and Holly Yost combined on a five hitter, striking out eight. Offensively, sophomore second baseman Lisa Iancin led the way with two hits, an RBI and a run scored. Freshman catcher Pauline Duenas also had an RBI single in the contest.

Cal then concluded action in its pool of the 15-team field with a 5-2 win over Santa Clara. Freshman right-hander Nicole DiSalvio scattered five hits for her fifth win of the year. The Bears played long ball to pull out the victory, with Megumi Takasaki socking a two-run homer, and first baseman Jenny Ackley providing a solo shot.

Cal moved onto championship round play with a winner's bracket game at 6 p.m. Floyd allowed just three hits and struck out eight to post her second shutout of the season in a 2-0 win over Drake. Shortstop Katie May went 3-for-3 with three doubles, an RBI and a run scored.

The Bears concluded their long day with a 9:20 p.m. contest against Pac-10 rival and eighth-ranked Arizona State. Cal loaded the bases in the top of the first inning, and scored the game's initial run on a sacrifice fly by May.

The Bears added an insurance run in the fifth inning on a solo homer by third baseman Carlyn Rojas. That was more than enough for DiSalvio, who tossed a six-hitter and struck out four.

Cal faces the winner of Sunday morning's Creighton-Arizona State contest at noon for the NIST title.

National Invitational Softball Tournament
Sunnyvale, CA

Akron        001   000   0 -- 1  5  1
California   022   000   X -- 4  5  1

Williams, McCoy (6) and Metzger. Floyd, Yost (5) and Duenas. W -- Floyd (6-5). S -- Yost (1). L -- Williams (1-2)

Santa Clara   100   100   0 -- 2  5   1
California    120   011   X -- 5  10  0

Barry (2-10) and Maynard. DiSalvio (5-4) and Takasaki. HR -- Takasaki (C), Ackley (C).

Drake        000   000   0 -- 0  3  1
California   011   000   X -- 2  7  0

Haak (3-2) and Thompson. Floyd (7-5) and Duenas.

Arizona State   000   000   0 -- 0  6  1
California      100   010   X -- 2  4  0

Breedlove (9-3) and Rodgers. DiSalvio (6-4) and Takasaki. HR -- Rojas (C).