May 16, 1998

FRESNO, Calif. -- Cal right-hander Holly Yost held Minnesota without a hit into the sixth inning, but the Golden Gophers broke through with three runs then held on for a 3-2 victory over the Golden Bears, eliminating Cal from the NCAA softball regional Saturday night.

Earlier in the day, the Bears (35-27) fell to top-seeded Fresno State, 6-3.

Against Minnesota, Yost retired 17 straight batters after leadoff hitter Laura Peters reached on an error in the first inning. But with two outs in the sixth, Peters was hit by a pitch, and Steph Midthun reached on an infield hit. Back-to-back walks forced in the first run and another infield single plated a second run. The Gophers moved ahead 3-0 when Michelle Bennett walked with the bases loaded, and at that point, Yost gave way to Nicole DiSalvio, who got the final out.

Cal, though, rallied in the top of the seventh. With one out, third baseman Pauline Duenas tripled into the left field corner and scored one out later on a single by Megumi Takasaki. Amber Phillips singled and Lisa Iancin walked to load the bases. Yost then was hit by a pitch to make the score, 3-2, but Katie May grounded back to the pitcher to end the game.

"This was a great game between two good teams," said Cal head coach Diane Ninemire. "We played well but were unable to capitalize on our opportunities early in the game. I thought Holly pitched a tremendous game, but the wheels kind of fell off for us in the sixth."

Earlier in a winners bracket game, Fresno State defeated Cal, 6-3. The Bulldogs moved ahead with two runs in the first, but Cal tied the score in the second inning when Jenny Ackley was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Duenas followed with a walk.

Fresno State scored twice more in the third inning to take a 4-2 lead. Cal came back with a run in the fifth when Yost doubled home Iancin. The Bulldogs, though, put the game away in the top of the seventh on a two-run homer by All-American Nina Lindenberg.

Cal finishes its season with a 35-27 after advancing to the NCAA regionals for the 13th consecutive year.

NCAA Softball Regional at Fresno, CA

Fresno State	202	000	2 -- 6   11  0
California	020	010	0 -- 3    6  1
Parker, Scott (5) and Wilson. Floyd, DiSalvio (2) and Takasaki.
W -- Parker (20-4). L -- DiSalvio (11-8). S -- Scott (2).
HR -- Lindenberg (F).

California	000	000	2 -- 2  9  1
Minnesota	000	003	X -- 3  2  1
Yost, DiSalvio (6) and Takasaki. Klaviter, Logue (3),
Klaviter (7) and Brophy.
W -- Logue (19-7). L -- Yost 5-6. S -- Klaviter (4).

Records
California	    35-27
Fresno State	    47-10
Minnesota	    48-20