March 8, 2001
TAMPA, Fla. - The No. 5 Stanford softball team won its first two games of the Speedline Invitational, hosted by the University of South Florida at Greco Complex. In the opening game of the tournament, the Cardinal defeated Penn State 2-0 and followed with a 6-4 win over Tennessee Tech. With the two wins, Stanford improves to 23-1-1 on the year.
In game one, the Cardinal scored its only two runs in the first inning. Jessica Mendoza started the rally with a double off the center field wall before Sarah Beeson's single to left center scored her. Jessica Allister's sacrifice to second scored Beeson for a 2-0 lead.
The Cardinal threatened in the fourth inning with back-to-back singles from Ramona Shelburne and Robin Walker, but a fly out, a fielder's choice and a strikeout ended the inning. Stanford also had the bases loaded in the seventh but was forced into three groundouts. The Cardinal stranded 11 runners on base.
In the circle, Dana Sorensen pitched a four-hit complete game shutout to improve her record to 11-1. She struck out 13 and walked three. She gave up four singles, but no runner advanced past second base.
Stanford collected 10 hits in the game with Walker, Mendoza and Allister all going 2-for-4. Penn State fell to 9-5 with the loss.
In the second game, it took Stanford until the fourth inning to get on the scoreboard. Beeson started the inning with a base hit to right center and Kira Ching followed with a ground-rule double that was ripped down the third base line. Allister's sac fly scored Beeson for the first run of the game.
The Cardinal then rattled off three consecutive hits from Jenni Shideler, Maureen LeCocq and Walker. Shideler and LeCocq singled, then Walker drove them both in with her double to the left center field wall. Mendoza kept the rally going with a single through the right side, scoring Walker. Stanford sent 10 batters to the plate in the inning and led 6-0 at the end of the fourth.
Tennessee Tech answered in the fifth with a pair of base hits. With runners on second and third, Tech scored on a pass ball. They rallied again in the sixth with another single and a double, and then a two-run home run from pitcher Lee Ann Mongar closed the gap to 6-4.
LeCocq earned her eighth win of the year and her third complete game. She struck out four and walked none.
Walker, Brangham and Shideler all had two hits apiece as the Cardinal put up 11 hits in the second game. Tennessee Tech falls to 11-6 with the loss.
Stanford continues pool play of the 24-team Speedline Invitational on Friday. The Cardinal takes on Boston University at 12:00 p.m. (EST) and the hosting school, USF, at 4:00 p.m. (EST).
Game 1 - Stanford v. Penn State Score by Innings1234567R H E #5 Stanford20000002 10 0 Penn State00000000 5 2 WP - Dana Sorensen (11-1) and Jessica Allister. LP - Marisa Hanson (2-3) and Erica Greenberg. Save - None. 2B - Jessica Mendoza (STAN). 3B - None. HR - None. E - Jennifer Tripken (PSU) 2. LOB - Stanford 11, Penn State 9. Records: Stanford 22-1-1, Penn State 9-5.
Game 2 - Tennessee Tech v. Stanford Score by Innings1234567R H E Tennessee Tech 00001304 8 0 #5 Stanford000600x6 11 0 WP - Maureen LeCocq (8-0) and Michelle Thiry. LP - Lee Ann Mongar (4-3) and Jennifer Smith. Save - None. 2B - Robin Walker (STAN, Stephanie Dallman (TTU). 3B - None. HR - None. E - None. LOB - Tennessee Tech 4, Stanford 5. Records: Tennessee Tech 11-6, Stanford 23-1-1.