February 14, 1999
STANFORD, Calif. - The Stanford University softball team swept a doubleheader from Saint Mary's (0-9) on Sunday afternoon at the Stanford Softball Complex. The Cardinal (2-0) took game one by an 18-1 score, then took game two by a 4-0 margin.
In the first game, Stanford scored twice in the first inning, scored six in the second, eight in the third and two more in the fourth as the team scored the most runs in school history against a Divison I opponent. The previous mark of 14 runs was recorded at Cal State Fullerton on Feb. 9, 1997. The offensive stars for Stanford were two freshmen, Christina Chao and Jessica Mendoza. Chao, a third baseman from Newhall, California, went 3-for-3 with two doubles, a grand slam home run and 4 RBI while Mendoza, an outfielder from Camaillo, California, went 3-for-3 with a triple and four RBI. Senior Marcy Crouch (2-1) took the win for the Cardinal as she gave up just three hits and no earned runs in five innings of work.
A three-run fourth inning was the big difference as Stanford also took game two. In that inning, freshman Robin Walker doubled down the left field line and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Michelle Schneider to make it 1-0. The Cardinal then countered with another run that was single-handedly scored by Mendoza. After she singled, Mendoza stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and then scored on an error by the Saint Mary's catcher. The third run of the inning was plated by Ramona Shelburne, who was brought home on a one-out single by freshman Sarah Beeson.
Stanford later scored an insurance run in the fifth inning to provide the final margin of victory. With no outs, Jennie Foyle, who was pinch running for Kellie Wiginton, scored on a bases loaded walk to Mendoza.
Senior Becky Blevins took the win in game two as she gave up just two hits and struck out five on the way to the 26th shutout of her career.
The Cardinal will next travel to Poway, California, where the team will compete in the Campbell/Cartier Classic from Feb. 18-21. Stanford's first game of the tournament will be Thursday, February 18 when the Cardinal play Texas Tech at 9:00 am.