Jessica van der Linden Class: Senior Hometown: Cerrritos, CA High School: Cerritos HS Position: P/OF

2004 Media Guide Bio in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

2003 (AT THE PLATE): 2003 NFCA and Easton first team All-American ...ACC Player of the Year ...one of just 10 finalists for USA Softball National Player of the Year Honors ...second consecutive season as an NFCA All-Region first team selection ...no player in the nation had a higher batting average or lower ERA than van der Linden ...finished 29th in the nation with a .412 batting average ...first ACC player to win Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year as a junior ...eighth in the nation in strikeouts,16th in batting average and 24th in ERA ...had the most impressive single season in FSU softball history when you take into account her play at the plate,in the circle and in the outfield ...posted the second-highest single season batting average in FSU softball history ...led the team in seven offensive categories ...the first player in Florida State history to ever record 40 doubles in her career ...first Seminole ever to lead the team in average,hits,doubles,triples and walks in one season ...led FSU in batting average,hits,doubles,triples,walks, sac flies and on base percentage ...second on the team in RBIs,runs and total bases ...third on the team in game-winning RBIs and slugging percentage ...had the fourth longest hitting streak and registered six multi RBI games ...finished fifth on the team in two-out RBIs. ACC REGULAR SEASON: Led the ACC in batting average,walks and on base percentage ...amongst the conference leaders for slugging,hits,runs scored,doubles,triples RBIs and total bases ...in games against ACC teams,she was first in the conference in RBIs and second in total bases ...also among the ACC leaders in conference games for batting average,hits,runs, doubles,walks,on base percentage and slugging ...led FSU in RBIs,total bases and doubles in conference games ...second in batting average,slugging,hits and game-winning RBIs ...also amongst FSU 's leaders in two-out RBIs and runs scored. GAME HIGHLIGHTS: In the first doubleheader for the season,van der Linden hit .750,going 3-for-4,with two runs scored and three walks.She also tied her career high in stolen bases with two ...against Auburn she hit .500 with a double,a RBI,two runs scored and four walks ...had a perfect 3 for 3 day with three runs against FAMU ...went 1 for 2 with two walks against No.18 Oregon and 1 for 3 with another free pass against No.8 Georgia ...collected nine hits in four games at the Sunshine State Tournament ...started off by going 3 for 4 with three runs scored,three RBIs and a double ...went 2 for 4 with another double and another RBI against Iowa State ...van der Linden went 3 for 3 with another RBI against the Middle Tennessee State ...started hot at the NFCA Leadoff Classic going 1 for 4 with two runs scored and an RBI versus then-No.18 Pacific ...went a perfect 3 for 3 against Mississippi State with an RBI ...had another RBI and scored a run as she went 1 for 2 versus Syracuse with the 34th double of her career ...recorded three more RBIs against Pitt ...went 3 for 6 with two runs,a triple and two walks against Troy State ...at the KIA Klassic,van der Linden drew six walks and had a.700 on base percentage.She had just four official at bats in three starts ...started the Buzz Classic out by going 4 for 8 with two runs scored and three walks on day one ...versus Maryland and FAMU ,she led the squad in hits,doubles,runs scored and total bases.She was also second on the team with two RBIs,a .636 slugging percentage and a .462 on base percentage ...had a double,scored a run and had two RBIs in game one vs.UMD ...in game two,her double in the fifth sparked FSU 's comeback win ...another double versus FAMU sparked another comeback ...set a new career high with four RBIs in a game against Furman and also moved into first place all-time for career doubles with her 38th ...scored three runs versus FAMU ....broke the all-time doubles record and also added a triple in two games versus JU ...went 3 for 3 with three runs scored and five walks against UF ...followed that series up by beating UVA going 3 for 5 with four RBIs, four runs,a double and a triple ...at the ACC Tournament,van der Linden tied for fourth on the team with two RBIs,one each against Virginia in the first game of the tournament and one against Georgia Tech in the second game ...registered one hit,one RBI and one run scored in Florida State 's 10-2 victory over Virginia in the first round of the tournament ...recorded one hit and one RBI on four at bats in Florida State 's victory against Georgia Tech ...had one putout as the Seminoles ' centerfielder in the first game against Virginia and two assists as Florida State 's pitcher in the second game against Georgia Tech.

2003 (IN THE CIRCLE): 2003 NFCA and Easton first team All-American ...ACC Player of the Year ...one of just 10 finalists for USA Softball National Player of the Year Honors ...second consecutive season as an NFCA All-Region first team selection ...no player in the nation had a higher batting average or lower ERA ...half of an FSU staff that finished fourth in the NCAA for team ERA ...finished sixth in the nation for strikeouts and 16th in ERA ...the first ACC player to win Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year as a junior ...won 12 straight starts inside the circle and had a 47 inning scoreless streak ...set new career highs for wins, complete games,shutouts and strikeouts ...she and Casey Hunter are the only two pitchers from one team to appear in the Top 16 for ERA in the nation ...allowed three or less hits in 12 of her 25 starts and allowed two or less earned runs in 21 of those starts ...did not allowed an earned run in nine of her last 13 starts ...recorded 10 or more strikeouts in 12 of her last 18 starts ...in 12 of her starts she issued one walk or less including no free passes in four of those starts. ACC REGULAR SEASON: Half of the most dominating staff ever at FSU in ACC games ...was a perfect 3-0 with a 0.49 ERA in conference games ...first on the squad with 39 strikeouts ...third in the ACC in ERA,strikeouts, shutouts and opponent batting average ...fourth in wins,innings pitched,starts and complete games ... first in opponent batting average and the second best ERA in games against ACC teams and also the second most shutouts ...third in wins and amongst the ACC leaders in innings,appearances,starts and complete games. GAME HIGHLIGHTS: Started the season pitching 14.2 innings,allowing two earned runs and striking out 18 batters ...versus Georgia Southern ,she pitched 6.2 innings allowing only two runs and striking out eight ...pitched 8.0 innings in game two against Auburn ,allowing no earned runs off five hits and striking out 10 batters ...pitched nine innings recording a win over FAMU and a no decision versus No.8 UGA ...had her best outing of the Seminole Challenge against Pittsburgh as she struck out 10 batters and allowed no earned runs ...against Troy State she fanned 11 batters and then broke that mark with 13 in a no-hitter versus Winthrop .Came just one walk away from a perfect game against the Eagles ...pitched a gem against one of the nation 's best hitting teams in No.1 Arizona .Her one mistake was taken out of the park by National Player of the Year finalist Lovie Jung in a 2-0 loss ...pitched a nine-inning gem against Boston striking out a career high 18 batters while issuing just two walks.She gave up just three hits and didn 't allow an earned run in the win ...followed that outing by striking out 12 and walking none in another extra inning win versus Georgia State to clinch the Buzz Classic tournament title ...versus Maryland and FAMU she posted a 0.57 ERA,struck out 19 batters in 12.1 innings of work while allowing just one earned run ...in game two versus the Terps ,she pitched an 11 strike out gem as she gave up just one earned run in 9.1 innings ...in a trip to Elon and North Carolina the All-American went 2-0 in the circle with a 0.00 ERA,as she didn 't allow a single run in either outing.In 14 innings,she struck out 25 batters and issued just two walks.She didn 't allow an extra base hit and held opposing batters to a .128 average ...increased her scoreless innings streak to 34 and struck out double-digit batters for the sixth straight game.Allowed just three hits in 12 innings of work and won her sixth straight decision versus UCF and Furman ...recorded her second ever win over UF inside the circle ...followed that series up by beating UVA on the mound ...pitched seven innings,walked on batter and struck out 11 Yellow Jackets as she picked up her 11th straight win ...in the ACC Tournament,van der Linden earned the pitching victory over Georgia Tech in the second game of the championships ...pitched six innings and allowed only two earned runs in gaining the win ...gained the pitching victory in the Seminoles victory over Georgia Tech . Pitched into the seventh when she was lifted for Casey Hunter after having loaded the bases.Faced 24 batters and recorded nine strikeouts and only six hits.Allowed only one runner to reach third base and enjoyed three 1-2-3 innings within the first six innings ...struck out seven batters and pitched six shutout innings in FSU 's NCAA Tournament opener versus Texas Arlington .

2002 SEASON (IN THE CIRCLE): Another in the long line of great Seminole pitchers, van der Linden will take over the No. 1 spot in the rotation for the first time ever this season...had a stellar sophomore season after being named ACC Rookie of the Year in 2001...saw her numbers improve in almost every category despite pitching twice as many innings versus more difficult opponents...set new career highs in 2002 for wins (16), appearances (32), starts (31), saves (1), innings pitched (175.2) and strikeouts (175) despite moving from third to second in the rotation...van der Linden led the team in opposing batting average (.193) and led all starters with a .727 winning percentage...led the Seminoles in opponent batting average against left-handed hitters (.220), with the bases empty (.177) and with two outs (.149)...also led the staff in allowing the fewest leadoff batters to reach base (34%), fewest hits per game (5.1) and fewest doubles per game (0.52)...in ACC competition, van der Linden made giant strides from her freshman year as she cut her ERA from 5.25 to 1.56, raised her record from 0-1 to 2-0 and registered 19 K's compared to zero in 2001...versus conference opponents, the southpaw went undefeated (2-0), led the team in ERA (1.56), allowed just four earned runs in 18.0 innings and led FSU by holding ACC batters to an average of just .192...started the season strong by pitching two complete games, striking out 16 batters and limiting opponents to .089 batting average in games versus Georgia Southern and Mercer...allowed just one run in two starts and struck out nine GSU batters in game two of the DH...pitched two more complete games the next week and went 1-1 on the mound with a 1.00 ERA while striking out 15 batters...allowed just two earned runs in two complete game outings versus FAU and Louisville...struck out 10 against Louisville and didn't allow an extra base hit in her third two-hitter of the season...at the Seminole Classic, she went 1-0 with a 1.00 ERA...versus Maryland, she walked three and struck out nine Terrapin batters as she pitched a complete game and allowed just three hits in a 2-1 win...threw a perfect game, went 2-0 and didn't allow an earned run in 20 innings on the mound at the Troy Cox Classic, which led to tournament MVP honors...threw 15.1hitless innings and went 20 innings without allowing an earned run...threw the first perfect game and fourth no-hitter of her young career in a 5-0 win over Dayton that tied Coach Graf for the NFCA All-Time wins record. The seven inning gem featured eight strikeouts of which six were looking...pitched three innings in a blow-out of Rutgers at the Kia Klassic while striking out four batters and allowing just one hit...in an eight game stretch that began against Maine and ended at the Buzz Classic, the sophomore pitched 27.0 innings, went 3-1 and posted an ERA of just 0.52 while striking out 33 batters...opponents hit just .173 off of her during that stretch...set a season-high with 11 strikeouts vs. Princeton...in three games versus FAMU van der Linden had a 0.00 ERA, picked up a win and struck out two with no walks...went 2-0 in the circle while striking out 16 batters and issuing just two walks against UAB and Georgia Tech...her two wins in the circle helped her equal her entire win total from her ACC Rookie of the Year season...picked the team up in a big way after a disappointing loss to Florida in the first game of a twin bill. She pitched a complete game five-hitter and allowed just one run and struck out eight Gators as FSU came back to split the season series...allowed just two earned runs in 5.2 innings of work versus defending ACC Champion UNC in a series sweep by the Seminoles...won her next three starts versus Jacksonville State, Virginia and Troy State in important conference and regional games...allowed just one run and established a new season high with 13 strikeouts in a complete game win against JSU...went six innings, didn't allow an earned run and moved to 2-0 in ACC games as she helped FSU sweep Virginia and clinch the conference regular season title...gave up only three hits in six innings as she registered her 16th complete game of the year against Troy State that extended the Seminoles to a season-long nine game winning streak...made two appearances in the 2002 NCAA Tallahassee Regional...suffered the loss on the mound in FSU's first game versus Georgia Tech but only two of the four runs she allowed in the first were earned and she gave up only two hits and walked two...recorded the first save of her career as she pitched the final three innings in relief of Leslie Malerich in the Regional Championship...allowed zero hits and zero runs while striking out four to close out the regional and send the Seminoles to the World Series...set down the final nine batters of the game and faced the minimum of nine batters during her outing...built on that momentum and had a spectacular outing at the 2002 Women's College World Series...got her only start in the biggest game in over 10 years for FSU as she took the circle versus defending National Champion Arizona in the WCWS semi-finals...van der Linden pitched six strong innings and allowed just one earned run as FSU took the Wildcats into extra innings.

2002: (AT THE PLATE): 2002: Van der Linden continued to progress after her ACC Rookie of the Year season and blossomed into one of the Tribe's top offensive threats...ranked either first or second on the team in 10 major offensive categories...led the team in at bats (214), plate appearances (269), starts (75) and doubles for the second straight year (14)...after only two seasons van der Linden already ranks third for all-time doubles at FSU and is only 11 shy of establishing a new all-time record...she and first team All-American Brandi Stuart formed one of the most formidable duos to ever wear an FSU uniform...ranked second on the team just behind Stuart in batting average (.336), total bases (99), slugging percentage (.463), hits (72), triples (5), walks (37) and on base percentage (.435)...set career highs for batting average (.336), at bats (214), runs (38), hits (72), triples (5), home runs (1), total bases (99), slugging percentage (.463), walks (37), on base percentage (.435) and sacrifice hits (14)... at the 2002 NCAA Tallahassee Regional van der Linden led the entire team in average (.333), runs (2), hits (5), doubles (1), triples (1), RBIs (3) and total bases (8)...batted .300 with two RBIs to open the 2002 season...went 2-for-3 versus No. 9 Washington...at the Seminole Classic, she led the team with a .417 average, five hits, two doubles and a .583 slugging pct...doubled in two runs in a 6-3 win over Syracuse...had two walks, two hits and scored two runs versus St. John's... hit .444 (8-for-18) at the Troy Cox Classic. Scored six runs, had three doubles and a home run...slugged a team-leading .778 and struck out just once ...at the Kia Klassic versus Rutgers and No. 14 DePaul, van der Linden went 4-for-6 with two RBIs and four runs scored...went a perfect 2-for-2 with a run scored and an RBI versus the Scarlet Knights...against the Blue Demons, she was 2-for-4 with three runs scored, an RBI and a walk...at the Sunshine Classic, she hit .417 (5-for-12), scored three runs, had a double, a triple and slugged .667...recorded her seventh double and first triple of the year while knocking in her ninth RBI at the Classic...versus Maine and in six games at the Buzz Classic, van der Linden hit .370 (10-for-27), scored five runs, had four RBIs and two doubles...the sophomore hit safely in all eight games highlighted by a 4-for-6, two RBI, two run performance in the doubleheader versus Maine...versus UAB and in FSU's ACC-opener versus Georgia Tech she hit .500 (5-for-10), scored four runs, hit two triples and knocked in 3 RBIs...she went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, two RBIs and two triples in the UAB doubleheader...scored two more runs and went 2-for-4 in game one of the Georgia Tech twin bill...not only did she shut the Gators down on the mound in the second game of a twin bill but she also went 1-for-2 with two RBIs. Her two-run double plated the game-winning run as FSU split the series...scored two runs and drew two walks in a sweep of the Tar Heels...over the next two doubleheaders against Jacksonville State and Virginia, van der Linden went 8-for-13 with three runs, four RBIs, a double and a walk...exploded versus Jacksonville State as she went 5-for-6 with a run scored, two RBIs, a double and a walk...continued that momentum versus UVa as she knocked in the game-winning run in the first game versus ACC Player of the Year Kristen Dennis...she then turned around and got the win inside the circle on top of going 2-for-3 with two runs scored at the plate...scored another run and knocked in two more RBIs in a sweep of Troy State...against No. 10 Florida Atlantic, van der Linden went 2-for-6 with two runs and an RBI. The RBI was the game-winner in the bottom of the seventh as she drew a bases loaded walk off of National Player of the Year finalist Nicole Myers...led the team in average (.333), hits (3) and was second in on base percentage at the 2002 ACC Softball Championships...scored the game-tying run against Auburn in the opening game of the 2002 NCAA Tallahassee Regional on Monique Marier's fourth inning single...her outfield assist helped cut down Auburn's Lindsay Chitwood as she tried to score from second on a single to center...was 1-for-3 at the plate in an elimination game versus UTC...her hit was a single up the middle in the sixth inning...went 1-for-3 at the plate with one run scored in the first of two Regional Championship games versus Georgia Tech...her run was the game-winning run in the ninth inning...had two hits in four at bats with three RBIs in the final game of the regional....drove home the game's first run on a first inning triple to score Kimmy Carter...gave the Seminoles a 1-0 lead that Florida State did not relinquish...drove in both of Florida State's second inning, game-winning runs with a double to left to score Tatiana George and Shundra Colzie...started all four games at the 2002 Women's College World Series...recorded her first hit of the 2002 WCWS with a sharp single off the glove of Nebraska pitcher Peaches James in the fourth inning...came through once again in the fifth inning as she doubled to left field driving in Kimmy Carter for her first RBI of the College World Series.

2001 season (in the circle): The 2001 ACC Rookie of the Year joined with Leslie Malerich and Jen White-Stokes to comprised the nation's No. 1 pitching staff...had the nation's 16th-best ERA (0.84) but fell just a few innings shy of officially qualifying for the national rankings...became the first player in Florida State history to throw three no-hitters in a season...threw no-hitters against the College of Charleston (Feb. 17), Iowa State (Mar. 16) and Florida A& M (Apr. 17)... finished the 2001 campaign with an ERA of 0.84, 13 wins, 92.0 innings pitched, 13 starts and 17 appearances, 91 K's, 23 strikeouts looking, 22 walks (the fewest on the team), 33 hits (the fewest on the team), 11 earned runs (the fewest on the team), 16 runs (the fewest on the team) and an .812 winning percentage...led all Seminole pitchers by allowing just .36 hits per inning and also led the staff by holding opposing batters to just a .111 batting average...got off to an amazing start to her Seminole career by throwing 28 scoreless innings and posting a 6-0 record at the start of 2001...ERA has never exceeded 1.00 at any point last season...recorded three games with 10 or more strikeouts...allowed the fewest doubles (4) and triples (0) of any FSU pitcher...pitched a season high 7.1 innings against North Carolina (Apr. 8)...recorded a team high 14 strikeouts against Florida A&M (Mar. 6)...eighth in the ACC in wins (13), fourth in the conference in strikeouts per game (7.13), sixth in the ACC in shutouts (7), leading the ACC in opponent batting average (.111) and ninth in the conference in complete games (11).

2001 season (at the plate): Started and appeared in more games than any FSU freshman last season and probably had the biggest impact of any Seminole freshman in recent memory...started 36 games in right field, 14 games as a designated player, 12 games at first and six games in left...appeared amongst FSU's team leaders in 14 of 17 offensive categories...ranks in the top three of seven different offensive categories...tied for the team lead in doubles (14) and games played (70)...second on the squad with four triples, 68 starts and tied for second with a .390 on base percentage...her 36 RBIs, 85 total bases, 19 walks, 203 at bats and 238 plate appearances ranked third on the team...was also in the top five in bating average (.310) runs scored (28) and slugging percentage (.419)...tied for second with 18 multi-hit games and has the third most multiple RBI games (8)...had a five game hitting streak earlier this season, which is tied for the fifth longest on the team...had the fourth best fielding percentage amongst starters (.983) and was fourth with 132 putouts...during NCAA Regional play, led the team with three RBIs, was second with two doubles, five hits, three walks, and 22 plate appearances...set a season high with three RBI and seven total bases against Mercer (Feb. 20)...set a season high for hits (4) and tied her season high for RBI (3) against Florida A&M (Apr. 17)...went 6 for 11 with a run scored and six RBI against Boston College and Mercer (doubleheader) over a three day stretch...went 6 of 7 with two runs scored and three RBI in back-to-back games against FAMU and Florida...her 11 putouts against Illinois (Feb. 23) was a season high...five assists against Bethune Cookman (Mar. 17) and Troy State (Apr. 30) were season highs...had 132 putouts (fourth best on the team) and 38 assists in 163 chances.

High School: Was Long Beach Press Telegram Dream Team Player of the Year...was a member of the two time C.I.F. Southern Section Division II champions...was All C.I. F. first team in 1999 and 2000... Cerritos MVP in 1999 and 2000...C.I.F. Southern Section Division II Player of the Year 1999 and 2000...graduated with honors...played for the Puerto Rican National Team at the South American Olympic Qualifier in Venezuela...also played volleyball.

Personal: Become a dominant pitcher on the international stage also as a member of the Puerto Rican National team...spent this past summer pitching for Puerto Rico at the 2002 International Softball Federation (ISF)Women 's World Championships in Canada...at one point during pool play van der Linden led the tournament with a 4-0 record and a 0.79 ERA...helped the team qualify for the 2002 World Championships and 2003 Pan American games the previous year when she posted a 4-2 record at the qualifiers in Venezuela...awarded Pitcher of the Tournament honors...member of the 2002 ACC Academic Honor Roll...a communications major...born January 6,1982.