May 8, 2002
SAN JOSE, Calif. - No. 8 Stanford (42-16, 5-13 Pac-10) split a non-conference doubleheader with San Jose State (24-43, 7-15 WAC) on Wednesday afternoon in San Jose. The Cardinal routed the Spartans 10-2 in a six-inning win in the first game before falling 1-0 in the nightcap.
Senior Jessica Mendoza (Camarillo, Calif.) hit a grand slam and drove in six runs and Kira Ching (San Lorenzo, Calif.) chipped in with three RBI to lead Stanford to a 10-2, six-inning triumph in game one.
The Cardinal managed to push one run across in the top of the first inning when Ching's RBI single brought home Sarah Beeson (Tucson, Ariz.), who doubled with two outs.
Jessica Allister (Nacogdoches, Texas) and Maureen LeCocq (Woodland Hills, Calif.) recorded back-to-back singles to open the second inning, and advanced when Leah Nelson (Oakland, Calif.) was hit by a pitch. Mendoza followed with her 50th career home run, a grand slam over the center field fence to give Stanford a 5-0 lead.
The Cardinal increased its advantage to 7-0 in the top of the sixth as Mendoza's two-run single brought home Jessica Draemel (Omaha, Neb.) and Robin Walker (La Palma, Calif.), who singled and doubled to reach base. Two batters later, Ching drilled a two-run home run of her own to center to score Mendoza and give Stanford a 9-0 edge.
Nelson capped the Cardinal scoring with an RBI double to left field, plating Allister for the 10th run.
San Jose State's Stefanie McMinn drove in two runs with an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh to account for SJSU's two runs.
Freshman Elizabeth Bendig (Santa Ana, Calif.) picked up the first win of her collegiate career, tossing three scoreless innings in relief. Starter Tori Nyberg (Belmont, Calif.) limited the Spartans to one hit with six strikeouts over the first three innings.
San Jose State bounced back to take the nightcap 1-0 and earn a split in the twinbill.The second game of the doubleheader featured a pitcher's duel between Stanford starter Maureen LeCocq (Woodland Hills, Calif.) and San Jose State hurler Brianne Ferguson. Each starter traded zeroes on the scoreboard through the first three innings, both successful in different ways.
LeCocq (16-8) carried a no-hitter into the fourth inning until Ferguson helped her own cause with a single up the middle. Ferguson would advance to third base after the next two San Jose State hitters reached base and eventually come around to score on a wild pitch by LeCocq, giving the Spartans a 1-0 lead. San Jose State would end up with just two hits in the contest, with Veronica Ramos registering the second SJSU single.
Ferguson seemed to be in trouble throughout the game, as the Cardinal had a runner reach second base in every inning except the top of the first. The San Jose State hurler escaped out of several one-out and two-out Stanford scoring threats, as the Cardinal stranded 12 runners on base. Ferguson went the distance for the victory, scattering nine hits with three walks and five strikeouts.
Draemel led the Cardinal offense, which had a two-out, bases-loaded situation in the seventh inning, with a 2-3 effort at the plate.
Stanford will face No. 15 Oregon State at Boyd & Jill Smith Family Stadium on Friday at 7 p.m.