April 6, 2001
STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford's Sarah Beeson went 3-for-3 with a home run and four RBI as the No. 4-ranked Stanford softball team defeated Oregon 8-0 in a five-inning Pacific-10 conference game on Friday afternoon at Boyd & Jill Smith Family Stadium. The Cardinal improves to 33-3-1 overall and 3-1 in the Pac-10 while the Ducks fall to 23-22 (1-3 in conference play).
In a game that was dampened by a steady rain, the Cardinal wasted no time getting on the scoreboard as Jessica Mendoza singled in the bottom of the first. She stole second base and advanced to third on a throwing error by Oregon's catcher. Then Beeson drove her in with a single through the left side for a 1-0 lead at the end of the first.
In the third inning, the Cardinal added a three spot thanks to Beeson's home run to centerfield. Ramona Shelburne reached on a dropped third strike and Robin Walker's sacrifice bunt moved her to second. Mendoza was then hit by a pitch, setting up Beeson's three-run shot. It was her ninth homer of the year.
Stanford posted four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take an eight-run lead, ending the game. Walker started the inning with a walk before Mendoza went yard for the 12th time this year. Her homer to right center gave the Cardinal a 6-0 lead.
Beeson followed with a double to left center, which chased Oregon's starting pitcher Lisa Wangler. Annissa Meashintubby came in and forced two groundouts, but Cassi Brangham kept the rally going when she reached on a fielding error by Oregon's shortstop, scoring Beeson. Jenni Shideler ended the game when her ground ball to short was missed by the shortstop, enabling Brangham to score.
In the circle, Dana Sorensen picked up her 12th shutout win of the year. She had eight strikeouts and two walks while allowing seven hits (three of which were bunt singles). Sorensen, now 18-1, pitched out of jams on several occasions as the Ducks stranded 10 runners on base. Wangler took the loss for the Ducks, falling to 4-6 on the year.
Oregon left a runner on third base all five innings. In the first, the Ducks had runners on first and third with one out before Sorensen got the next two batters to strike out looking. The second and third innings were more of the same, as Oregon had runners on first and third before Sorensen retired the side with a strike out, a pop up and a ground out in both innings. The Ducks had their best opportunity in the fourth as they had the bases loaded with one out. But Sorensen struck out their No. 2 hitter and got the next batter to fly out, ending the threat.
Stanford had seven hits in the game led by Beeson's three. Mendoza also had a 2-for-2 outing with three runs and had a pair of RBI. Shideler and Kira Ching had the other two hits.
The Cardinal is next in action on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. for the first of two games with No. 16 Oregon State. The second game will be on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. The Beavers' game with Cal on Friday was rained out.
Score by Innings12345R H E Oregon000000 7 3 #4 Stanford103048 7 2 WP - Dana Sorensen (18-1) to Jessica Allister. LP - Lisa Wangler (4-6) to Kelly Planche. Save - None. 2B - Sarah Beeson (STAN). 3B - None. HR - Jessica Mendoza (STAN), Sarah Beeson (STAN). E - Kate Peterson (UO) 2, Kelly Planche (UO), Robin Walker (STAN), Sarah Beeson (STAN). LOB - Oregon 10, Stanford 4. Records: Oregon 23-22 (1-3), Stanford 33-3-1 (3-1).