Cal plays UCLA for women's softball title

Advertiser Staff and News Services

OKLAHOMA CITY — Maui's Kaleo Eldredge and her University of California softball teammates are returning to the College World Series title game.

Defending champion Cal (49-19) will play Pacific-10 conference rival UCLA (53-7) today in the NCAA final (10:30 a.m. HST, on ESPN).

The Bears and Bruins both advanced yesterday by knocking off previously unbeaten opponents in the double-elimination tournament.

Cal beat Arizona, 2-1, in 12 innings, then came back to oust the Wildcats, 4-1. Eldredge, a 2001 Baldwin High graduate, hit a solo homer and Veronica Nelson added a two-run shot to spur Cal's second-game victory.

Alicia Hollowell (40-5) lost both games for Arizona. In the first one, she struck out 16 in 11 1/3 innings but walked a season-high eight.

UCLA defeated Texas, 3-0, ending the Longhorns' 20-game winning streak, then returned to win the second meeting, 2-1.

The Bruins, seeking their ninth national championship, advanced with a two-out, two-run rally in the seventh inning of the second game.