February 11, 1999
Stanford, CA - The Stanford University softball team swept a doubleheader from Santa Clara(0-5) on Wednesday afternoon at the Stanford Softball Complex. Stanford (2-0), playing in its season opener, took game one by a 7-0 score, then took game two by a 9-0 margin.
In the first game, the Cardinal first got on the board in the third inning thanks to a one-out RBI double by frehman Jessica Mendoza that scored Jennie Foyle. With Stanford ahead 3-0 in the fourth, Mendoza had another double, which scored three runs and put the game away. A native of Camarillo, California, Mendoza went 3-for-4 with four RBI in her first collegiate game. Starting pitcher Becky Blevins was just as impressive as she struck out 12 Broncos, breaking her own school record of 11 strikeouts, which she set last year against California (Apr. 11). Blevins, a Third Team All-American last season, went the distance for the Cardinal as she gave up just one hit and recorded the 25th shutout of her career.
The Santa Clara defense was the big difference in game two as four errors by the Broncos led to seven unearned runs by Stanford. With no score and two outs in the bottom of the third, SCU shortstop Angela Rotstein booted a groundball by Mendoza to prolong the inning. After a single by freshman Sarah Beeson, senior Michele Acosta singled up the middle to score Mendoza and Beeson. Acosta later came around to score when Bronco third baseman Joyca Caverly threw away the ball on a Michelle Schneider single, making the score 3-0.
It was the same story in the fifth as two errors by Santa Clara left fielder Sytdney Wiginton led to four more Stanford runs. Cardinal second baseman Lauren Gellman contributedto the on slaught as she had a two-RBI triple to make it 7-0..
The only two earned runs by Stanford came on a two-run home run by freshman Christina Chao in the sixth inning. With the home run making the score 9-0, it immediately halted the game as Stanford held an eight-run lead past the fifth inning.
Senior Marcy Crouch took the win in game two as she gave up just two hits and struck out five on the way to the 15th shutout of her career.