April 24, 1999
STANFORD, Calif. - The Stanford University Softball team split a Pac-10doubleheader with #5 Washington on Saturday afternoon at the StanfordSoftball Complex. The #12 Cardinal lost game one by a 3-2 score, then wongame two by a 4-3 decision. With the split, Stanford moves to 35-16overall, 5-11 in the Pac-10, while Washington goes to 35-12, 8-7 in thePac-10.
In the first game, Stanford scored two runs in the second inning totake a 2-0 lead. The inning began with Jessica Mendoza getting a base hitand Sarah Beeson being hit by a pitch. After Mendoza was forced at thirdbase, Marcy Crouch singled to load the bases. Senior Michele Acosta thenhit a single to right field that brought around Kelly Yablonski, who pinchran for Beeson, and Robin Walker to score. Wahington took the lead for goodwith three uneaned run in the top of the sixth. In that inning, a Stanforderror prolonged the Washington rally and left the bases loaded with oneout. A sacrifice fly by Jen Spediacci scored the Huskies first run to makeit 2-1. After a walk loaded the bases again, Washington got two straightinfield hits, the last one coming by winning pitcher Jamie Graves (19-6),to make the score 3-2. That is all the Huskies would need as Spediaccicome on in the seventh to preserve the victory and pickup her first save ofthe year.
Game two saw Stanford take an early lead with two runs in the firstinning. A solo home run by Kellie Wiginton made it 1-0 and then an RBIsingle by Mendoza scored Michelle Schneider, who had doubled, to give theCardina 2-0 lead. A home run by Spediacci in the second gave Washington arun back, but Stanford countered with two more runs in the fourth. Thistime, it was two errors by the Huskies that gave Stanford a chance. Withone out, Jennie Foyle scored on a wild pitch after she reached base on anerror. Later in the inning, Schneider scored on a sacrifice fly by Mendozaafter she also reached base on an error. Washington would then go on tothreaten Stanford as it scored a single run in the fourth and added anotherin the seventh, but couldn't push the tying run across. Senior BeckyBlevins (16-8) took the win for the Cardinal as she limited the Huskies toeight hits.
Stanford returns to action tomorrow, Sunday, April 25th, when ithosts #1 UCLA in a Pac-10 doubleheader beginning at 1:00 pm.