May 4, 2001
STANFORD, Calif. - The No. 3 Stanford softball team gave up three runs in the top of the eighth and couldn't come back as No. 11 Arizona State picked up a 4-3 eight inning win in Pacific-10 Conference action on Friday afternoon at Boyd & Jill Smith Family Stadium. The Cardinal falls to 46-10-1 overall and 9-7 in conference play while the Sun Devils improve to 32-17 and 7-9 in Pac-10 play.
The game was tied 1-1 after the third inning and remained tied until the top of the eighth when ASU was able to take a 4-1 lead off of three Stanford errors. Kristin Farber led off with her third infield single of the game. Missy Hixon's sacrifice bunt down the first base line was thrown wild by Sarah Beeson, which advanced Farber to third. Then Stanford third baseman Jenni Shideler was called for interference, and Farber was awarded home for a 2-1 ASU lead.
The Sun Devils added two more runs to their lead after a pass ball and a fielding error. Nichole Thompson reached on a fielder's choice, which scored Hixon. Thompson later scored on Phelan Wright's single to centerfield for a 4-1 Arizona State lead.
Stanford rallied for two runs in the bottom of the eighth to close the gap to 4-3. Robin Walker led off with a double down the left field line and Jessica Mendoza walked, which chased ASU starting pitcher Erica Beach. Kirsten Voak came on in relief and was greeted by Beeson's two-run single to left. Kira Ching followed with a line drive up the middle to put runners on first and second with no outs. But Voak got two strikeouts and forced a fly out to left to end the game.
The Cardinal got on the scoreboard early, scoring a run in the bottom of the first. Walker led off with a single to centerfield. Mendoza then doubled off the left centerfield wall to score Walker.
The Sun Devils tied the game in the top of the third. Two singles and a stolen base set up Thompson's sacrifice fly to left, scoring Farber.
Maureen LeCocq started in the circle for Stanford and went 4 1/3 innings, giving up one run on four hits. Jaime Forman-Lau came on in relief in the fifth inning. With the game tied 1-1 and runners on first and third, Forman-Lau got two ground outs to end the inning.
Dana Sorensen, who hadn't pitched since April 14 due to a sore back, started the sixth inning and finished the game for the Cardinal. She pitched three innings, giving up two hits and one earned run while striking out four. Sorensen took the loss to fall to 21-2 on the year. She hadn't loss since February 18.
For ASU, Beach pitched seven innings, allowing three runs on six hits. She struck out three and walked three in earning the win, improving to 15-8. Voak pitched an inning, giving up two hits to earn her fourth save of the year.
Stanford had eight hits in the game, including a 2-for-4 outing from Walker and a 2-for-3 performance from Beeson. Walker scored twice and Beeson drove in two runs. The Cardinal committed a season-high four errors in the game and has lost four straight Pac-10 games. It was also just the second time Stanford had lost at home this year.
The Cardinal continues its final Pac-10 weekend at home with No. 1 Arizona on Saturday and Sunday. Tomorrow's first pitch is set for 2:00 p.m. while Sunday has a 1:00 start time. Seniors Jenni Shideler and Ramona Shelburne will be honored prior to Sunday's game.
Arizona State 4, Stanford 3 (8) Score by Innings12345678R H E #11 Arizona State001000034 6 1 #3 Stanford100000023 8 4 WP - Erica Beach (15-8) to Stacey Farnworth. LP - Dana Sorensen (21-2) to Jessica Allister. Save - Kirsten Voak (4). 2B - Phelan Wright (ASU), Jessica Mendoza (STAN), Robin Walker (STAN). 3B - None. HR - None. E - Missy Hixon (ASU), Jessica Mendoza (STAN), Sarah Beeson (STAN) 2, Jenni Shideler (STAN). LOB - Arizona State 6, Stanford 7. Records: Arizona State 32-17 (7-9), Stanford 46-10-1 (9-7).