April 1, 1999
STANFORD, Calif. - The Stanford University Softball team swept a doubleheader from Utah State (7-18) on Thursday afternoon at the Stanford Softball Complex. The #9 Cardinal (28-7) took game one by a 6-2 score, then won game two by a 16-0 margin. With the win, Stanford's record is now 27-3 against non-conference opponents. Currently, the Cardinal is on an 18-game winning streak against those teams who are not in the Pac-10.
In the first game, Stanford scored two runs in the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. Freshman Jessica Mendoza had a one-out RBI double that scored senior Jennie Foyle with the first run. A ground out by freshman Sarah Beeson then brought home freshman Robin Walker with the second run of the inning. The Cardinal plated two more runs in the second thanks to a Utah State error. With two outs, Aggie 3B Erica Hernandez overthrew first base, which brought Michele Acosta and Foyle around to score. Stanford completed its scoring in the fifth with a pair of two-out bases-loaded walks that made the score 6-0. The Aggies responded to push two runs across in the top of the sixth, but the 6-2 score is as close as they would get.
The Cardinal scored eight runs in the first, two in the third and then six more in the fourth to win game two by a 16-0 score. The hitting stars for Stanford were Mendoza, who hit a grand slam home run in the fourth, and senior Michelle Schneider, who went 1-for-1 with two RBI and a run scored. After recovering from a bulging disk in her back, senior Becky Blevins (13-3) returned to form as she limited Utah State to one hit in four innings while taking the win.
Stanford returns to action this Saturday, April 3rd, when the team hosts 14th-ranked California in its Pac-10 home opener. First game of the doubleheader will begin at 1:00 pm.