The California Golden Bears softball team was eliminated from the 2011 Women’s College World Series by the Florida Gators. Florida defeated Cal 5-2 to advance to the semifinals of the NCAA softball tournament. Florida will face Alabama for a spot in the best-of-three championship series.
The Bears jumped on top of the Gators in the first inning, taking a 2-0 lead on an error, a double, and a single. However, after loading the bases with one out, Cal stranded all three runners. Those LOBs would prove pivotal.
Jolene Henderson got off to a solid start giving up no runs through the first 2 2/3 innings. However, Florida rallied with two outs in the third. Four singles and a walk gave the Gators a 3-2 lead, a lead which they would not relinquish. Cal got runners to second and third the rest of the way but they could not score any more runs. Florida added insurance in the fourth and fifth as they rolled to the 5-2 victory.