March 27, 2004
Stanford, Calif. - Junior Elizabeth Bendig collected three hits to lead the Stanford softball team to a 7-5 win over Brigham Young at the Stanford Classic in Boyd and Jill Smith Family Stadium. The Cardinal improve to 4-0 in tournament play and 26-7 overall.
BYU got on the board first, scoring two runs in the bottom of the second on a two-run homer by Ashlyn Russell.
Stanford picked up a five spot in the top of the third inning to answer the Cougars. Jackie Rinehart and Katherine Hoffman hit back-to-back singles to open the inning. An error by the third baseman put Catalina Morris on second, Hoffman on third, and brought Rinehart home. Lauren Lappin doubled to score Hoffman and Morris. Jessica Allister then doubled, as Lappin scored. Shoney Hixson pinch ran for Allister. With two outs on the board, Meghan Sickler singled through the right side, scoring Hixson.
The Cardinal picked up another run in the top of the fourth when Morris singled, scoring Hoffman.
Stanford's final run of the night came in the top of the fifth, when Rinehart hit a sacrifice fly, to give the Cardinal a 7-2 cushion.
Brigham Young threatened in the bottom of the fifth scoring three runs to close the gap to 7-5.
Laura Severson (10-3) picked up the win for the Cardinal, going 4.2 innings, allowing five runs on five hits with four strikeouts. Senior Dana Sorensen notched her fourth save of the season, pitching 2.1 scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Brooke Boyce took the loss for BYU, allowing five runs on six hits over two innings of work.
Jackie Rinehart, Jessica Allister and Lindsay Key added two hits each to the Cardinal effort while Lauren Lappin picked up two RBI and Katherine Hoffman scored two runs.
Stanford will face Hawaii in the championship game of the Stanford Classic tomorrow at noon. UC Riverside will take on Illinois in the consolation final at 10 a.m.