March 10, 2001
TAMPA, Fla. - The No. 5 Stanford softball team used an explosive offense to defeat Georgia Tech 9-0 in six innings on Saturday morning in the final pool play game of the Speedline Invitational, hosted by the University of South Florida, at Greco Complex.
The Cardinal won its pool (A) by going 4-1 and will play tonight at 7:00 p.m. (EST) against the winner of the second-place C team and the third-place B team. The win improves Stanford's record to 25-2-1 while the Yellow Jackets fall to 12-10.
Stanford got off to a fast start in the bottom of the first inning, posting two runs on three hits. Robin Walker led off with a walk before the Cardinal had a string of three base hits. Jessica Mendoza singled through the left side and Sarah Beeson drove in two runs with her single up the middle. Kira Ching also singled through the left side.
Dana Soresnsen took a perfect game into the fourth inning before the Jackets' leadoff hitter got a base hit up the middle. She allowed one other hit in the game while striking out 11 and walking none and improves to 13-1 on the year. She is also 3-0 on the weekend with three complete game shutouts.
The Cardinal extended the lead in the third inning when Beeson reached third base on an error by the center fielder. Ching scored her on a single to centerfield and Jessica Allister also picked up a base hit. Ching would later score on a ground out by Cassi Brangham for a 4-0 Stanford lead.
Jenni Shideler drove in two more runs for a 6-0 lead with a clutch, two-out single to left in the fifth. She scored Jessica Draemel (pinch running for Allister) and Brangham, who both reached on walks.
In the sixth, Mendoza hit her ninth home run of the season, and second of the tournament, giving the Cardinal a 7-0 lead. Beeson followed with a base hit, which made way for Ching's game-ending homer (eight-run rule after five innings). After fouling off several pitches from Tech's starter, Erin Voeltz, Ching's line drive shot to left center gave the Cardinal its 17th shutout win of the year.
The Cardinal bats were alive in the game as Stanford collected 12 hits. Ching led the way with her 3-for-4 outing with three RBI and two runs. Mendoza and Beeson each had a pair of hits while Shideler and Ramona Shelbure both went 2-for-3.
Score by Innings123456R H E Georgia Tech0000000 2 2 #5 Stanford2020239 12 0 WP - Dana Sorensen (13-1) and Jessica Allister. LP - Erin Voeltz (5-6) and Erin Glantz. Save - None. 2B - Jenni Shideler (STAN). 3B - None. HR - Jessica Mendoza (STAN), Kira Ching (STAN). E - Sara Wissmann (GTU) 2. LOB - Georgia Tech 1, Stanford 6. Records: Georgia Tech 12-10, Stanford 25-2-1.