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Bears stay undefeated at tourney

Daily Planet Wire Services
Saturday March 10, 2001

SUNNYVALE – The No. 4 Cal Bears squeaked past the Southern Illinois Salukis, 2-0 in game one of pool play at the National Invitational Softball Tournament and followed that win with a 7-2 victory over the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos in game two.  

The opening game was a scoreless stalemate for five innings, until sophomore Mikella Pedretti took action into her own hands for the Bears (23-0), sending a 1-0 pitch over the left field fence to give Cal the 1-0 lead. Junior Jocelyn Forest followed with a single up the middle and then stole second to move into scoring position. Sophomore Kristen Morley then singled to bring in Forest from second and give the Bears a two-run advantage.  

DiSalvio earned the win for Cal, improving to 10-0 on the year. She struck out seven SIU batters, walked two and allowed four hits.  

The Bears spotted the Gauchos two runs in the first inning of game two, but Cal chipped away at the UCSB (7-12) lead, stringing together five straight hits, along with a sophomore Veronica Nelson walk, to cut the Gauchos lead in half, 2-1.  

In the fourth with one out, sophomore Courtney Scott drilled a double down the left field line. Forest followed with a walk to put Cal runners on first and second. After the runners moved up one base apiece on a wild pitch. Sophomore Eryn Manahan came up next and sent a double to the left field gap to drive in Andrew and Forest, and give Cal the lead for good, 3-2.