March 3, 2001
ST. GEORGE, Utah - Sarah Beeson went 3-for-3 with two home runs and four RBI as the No. 6 Stanford softball team rolled to an 8-1 win over Utah on Saturday evening in the Red Desert Classic, hosted by University of Utah at The Canyons. The Cardinal moves to 20-1-1, while the Utes fall to 7-9.
Jessica Mendoza and Beeson gave the Cardinal an early lead with their back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the first inning. Both were solo shots, Mendoza's to left center and Beeson's to right center. The next batter, Kira Ching, advanced to second on a dropped fly. Then, Jessica Allister got the hot bat with her first collegiate home run, a line drive to left, for a 4-0 Stanford lead after one-half inning.
Beeson hit her second home run of the day, and seventh of the year, in the second inning. Robin Walker led off with a line drive to left and Beeson scored her with a deep shot to dead center field.
Stanford added single runs in the fourth and later in the seventh. Consecutive singles by Mendoza and Beeson led to a Cardinal score in the fourth. Then in the seventh, it was Michelle Thiry's double off the right center field wall, driving in Allister.
Maureen LeCocq, who had a four-run lead before stepping into the circle, was solid through six innings in earning her seventh win of the year. She gave up one run on two hits, striking out three and walking two. Jaime Forman-Lau came in for the seventh inning and sent the Utes down in order, recording two strikeouts.
The Cardinal collected 10 hits in the game, led by Beeson's 3-for-3 performance. Mendoza was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a RBI.
Stanford continues to use the long ball to its advantage in tournament play. Last weekend at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Georgia, the Cardinal had nine homers in five games. This weekend, the Cardinal has six home runs in four games, all coming in Saturday's two games, to move its season total to 20. Beeson and Mendoza each have seven to lead the squad.
The Cardinal, now 4-0 on the weekend, will play its final game of the Red Desert Classic against Missouri at 11:00 a.m. (MST).
Score by Innings1234567R H E #6 Stanford42010018 10 3 Utah 00100001 2 4
WP - Maureen LeCocq (7-0) and Michelle Thiry. LP - Heather Bowlin (2-4) and Christa Pfeninger. Save - None. 2B - Jessica Mendoza (STAN), Michelle Thiry (STAN). 3B - None. HR - Jessica Mendoza (STAN), Sarah Beeson (STAN) 2, Jessica Allister (STAN). E - Masie OTA (UU), Lyndsey Trevis (UU) 2, Christa Pfeninger (UU), Robin Walker (STAN) 2, Kira Ching (STAN). LOB - Stanford 7, Utah 5. Records: Stanford 20-1-1, Utah 7-9.