March 22, 1998

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- California won its first five games to reach the semifinals of the Capital Classic, but the 21st-ranked Golden Bears fell short of claiming their second consecutive tournament title as they fell to No. 16 Iowa and No. 12 Nebraska.

Cal (20-11) saw its overall 12-game winning steak end in a 4-2 loss to Iowa in a winner's bracket game late Saturday. The Bears spotted the Hawkeyes a 3-0 lead in the third inning, with two errors causing all three runs to be unearned.

Cal rallied for one run in the bottom of the fourth on back-to-back doubles by shortstop Katie May and designated player Holly Yost. Iowa extended its advantage to 4-1 in the sixth inning on a double and a single. The Bears scored once again in the seventh on a single by Megumi Takasaki, a sacrifice and a single by left fielder Paige Bowie.

The loss sent Cal into an elimination game with Nebraska Sunday morning. The Bears jumped out to a 5-1 lead with two runs in the second inning and three more in the third. Outfielders Maiko Bristow and Amber Phillips both had RBI singles in the second, while Pauline Duenas' RBI single, an error and a passed ball contributed to all three runs in the third.

However, Nebraska, which went on to win the tournament with a 2-1 victory over Iowa, scored five unearned runs in the fifth inning to move ahead for good. Errors by May and starting pitcher Nicole DiSalvio helped load the bases, and after a walked forced in one run, Yost relieved DiSalvio.

Yost surrendered an RBI single to make the score 5-3, but proceeded to strike out the next two batters. Another bases-loaded walk and a two-run single, though, gave the Cornhuskers a 6-5 lead.

Still, Cal finished in third place in the 16-team tournament with a 5-2 record. Second baseman Lisa Iancin, who batted .364 (8-for-22) with two doubles, two homers and six RBI, was named to the all-tournament team.

Saturday, March 21
Iowa        003 001 0 -- 4  7  3
California  000 100 1 -- 2  6  3
Bilbao (9-2) and Jendrzejewski. Floyd (10-6) and Takasaki.

Sunday, March 22
Nebraska    001 050 0 -- 6  6  1
California  023 000 0 -- 5  6  4
Voss (14-5) and Smith. DiSalvio, Yost (5) and Takasaki. L -- Yost (2-1). HR -- Lizama (N).

Records:
California  20-11
Nebraska    20-8
Iowa        14-5