Feb. 18, 2001
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The No. 15 Stanford softball team fell behind in the fourth inning and couldn't mount a comeback as Cal State Northridge gave the Cardinal its first loss of the season with a 2-1 decision on Sunday afternoon. It was the final game for both teams in the Campbell/Cartier Classic at the Poway Sportsplex. Stanford went 4-1 in the tournament and is 12-1 on the season while the Matatdors are 5-4 overall.
Cal State Northridge took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth. Colleen Spencer reached on an error, and pitcher Sarah Farnworth helped her own cause and drove in Spencer with an RBI single. Farnworth would later score on a base hit by Sara Cueva.
The Cardinal rallied for one run in the sixth inning after Jessica Mendoza led off with a single and Kira Ching doubled down the right field line. Mendoza scored on a ground out but Farnworth struck out Cassi Brangham to end the inning.
In the top of the seventh, Stanford had a chance to tie the game with a two-out rally. Robin Walker drew a walk and Ramona Shelburne's bunt wasn't fielded cleanly by the Matadors to put runners on first and second. But Farnworth came up big for Cal State Northridge by striking out Mendoza to end the game. Farnworth fanned eight in the game, the most by an opposing pitcher this season.
Stanford pitcher Dana Sorensen had 12 strikeouts and no walks in the losing effort as her record falls to 5-1 on the year. Sorensen, who broke the school record with 16 strikeouts in her last outing, has at least 10 strikeouts in five of six games. In three performances this weekend, Sorensen had 39 strikeouts and just four walks.
The Cardinal is next in action on Feb. 23 when it travels to the prestigious NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Georgia. Stanford faces Illinois-Chicago and LSU on the 23rd.
Score by Innings1234567R H E #15 Stanford 000 01001 3 1 CSUN 000200x2 2 2Stanford: Dana Sorensen (12K, 0BB) and Michelle Thiry. Northridge: Sarah Farnworth (8K, 4BB) and Sara Cueva. WP - Farnworth (3-2). LP - Sorensen (5-1). Save - None. 2B - Ramona Shelburne (STAN), Kira Chin (STAN). 3B - None. HR - None. E - Colleen Spencer (CSUN), Robin Walker (STAN), Sarah Farnworth (CSUN). None. LOB - Stanford 8, Northridge 2. Records: Stanford 12-1, Northridge 5-4.