Feb. 15, 2001
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The No. 15 Stanford softball team is off to its best start in program history (since 1994) after a 2-1 win over No. 11 Michigan on Thursday afternoon at the Poway Sportsplex. The Cardinal is 8-0 overall while Michigan is 0-1.
The win was also the first time Stanford has defeated Michigan in school history. The Cardinal was previously 0-3 all-time against the Wolverines, which is the same team that snapped Stanford's seven-game winning streak at the beginning of the 2000 season.
Stanford's Sarah Beeson had a two-run double in the top of the fifth inning to put the Cardinal up 2-1. Robin Walker started the rally with a double to left center and Jessica Mendoza walked before Beeson roped the two-out double to center field.
The two runs were all the Cardinal would need as pitcher Dana Sorensen struck out five of the last 11 batters to earn her fourth win of the season. The sophomore fanned 11 and walked three, allowing just two hits. She struck out the side in the fourth inning and picked up two strikeouts in each of the final three innings. Sorensen has at least 10 strikeouts in three of four games this season.
Michigan took a 1-0 lead in the third inning with a Melinda Moulden RBI single. The Wolverines had a chance in the sixth inning when Moulden reached on an error and Rebecca Tune singled. But Sorensen got fellow pitcher Marissa Young to strikeout to end the inning. Young finished with seven strikeouts and four walks.
Beeson was 2-for-2 on the day with a single in the second. She was hit by a pitch in the fourth inning.
Both teams begin play in the Campbell/Cartier Classic on Friday. Stanford opens the tournament with New Mexico at 1:00 p.m. and will face Michigan again at 3:30 p.m.
Score by Innings1234567R H E #15 Stanford 000 02002 3 2 #11 Michigan 00100001 2 0Stanford: Dana Sorensen (11K, 3BB) and Michelle Thiry. Michigan: Marissa Young (7K, 4BB) and Kim Bugel. WP - Sorensen (4-0). LP - Young (0-1). 2B - Robin Walker (STAN), Sarah Beeson (STAN), 3B - None. HR - None. E - Jessica Draemel (STAN), Ramona Shelburne (STAN). LOB - Stanford 6, Michigan 5. Records: Stanford 8-0, Michigan 0-1