May 19, 2001

Tallahassee, FL - Just 30 minutes after losing a heart-breaking 1-0 game in the bottom of the seventh inning to Cal, the Seminole softball team (57-11) had to bounce back and down a tough Florida Atlantic squad (46-21) if they wanted to keep their College World Series dreams alive. The Seminoles did just that behind a two-hit complete game shutout by Leslie Malerich (24-3), FSU garnered its third win of the season over the Owls 2-0 and moved on to a rematch with Cal on Championship Sunday at the 2001 NCAA Tallahassee Regional.

"The biggest concern I had after that game (the 1-0 loss to Cal) is that we would be down emotionally after the loss," said head coach Dr. JoAnne Graf. "Then we had to turn around and play a very tough Florida Atlantic team. I think it was a very big mental challenge more than a physical challenge for our team but I was very pleased with the way we handled it."

Florida State took an early lead on FAU ace Nicole Myers (26-13) when she walked the first batter of the game, Serita Brooks. The senior All-American then stole her 54th consecutive base of the season, which ranks her third on the all-time NCAA list for consecutive steals. After Kimmy Carter struck out swinging, ACC Rookie of the Year Jessica van der Linden knocked a double to left center bringing Brooks home with van der Linden's 36th RBI of the year.

The Seminoles threatened Myers again in the bottom of the fifth when Kimmy Carter hit a one-out single to left and was followed by van der Linden who reached on a fielder's choice with Carter reaching second safely on an error by FAU second baseman Amy Bellisari. Robyn Gauger then singled to left center to load the bases with just one out. Myers bounced back to get Brandi Stuart and Jen White-Stokes to end the inning and keep the Owls just one run down.

FSU did add an insurance run in the next inning when Natalie Bennett hit a grounder to third baseman Michelle Shirah who made an errant throw to first that rolled all the way to the right field wall in foul territory. Bennett came around to score on the four base-error and extend FSU to a 2-0 lead heading into the top of the seventh.

"We came out and scored early which I think helped and Leslie (Malerich) threw an awesome game," said Graf. "She stopped them from ever really mounting a threat against a very tough offense. Then we were fortunate to get a cheap run at the end to get some insurance. At this stage of the season you take them however you can get them."

Malerich continued her dominance in the NCAA Tallahassee Regional by allowing just one hit, walking one batter and striking out six. She is now 3-0 in the 2001 NCAA Tallahassee Regional and has an ERA of just 0.67 for the tournament. The reigning ACC Player of the Year has allowed just two earned runs, struck out 18 batters and issued three walks this weekend.

"I took this game very personally because I remembered earlier in the season when they had scored four runs against us with two outs in the seventh," said Malerich. "I wanted to show them that this team wasn't going to give into that again. This was a very personal game for myself and our players."

Florida State now faces Cal (52-15) in a rematch of a winner's bracket game earlier Saturday afternoon, which the Golden Bears won 1-0 in the bottom of the seventh on a suicide squeeze that scored the game winning run. FSU is now 0-5 lifetime against the Bears and has managed to score just one run in those five meetings.

"Basically we have to go out tomorrow and do what we know we are capable of doing," said freshman van der Linden. "Against Cal, going into the game, a lot of us were hesitant but as we got further into the game we got a lot of confidence. Jocelyn (Forest) has a very good rise ball but we began to lay off that pitch towards the end of the game. If we continue to do that we will be set."

Sunday's championship action is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. start with Florida State needing to defeat Cal twice to advance to the College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla. For additional information on the Seminole softball team or the 2001 NCAA Tallahassee Regional, please visit www.seminoles.com.