May 7, 2004
Stanford, Calif. - Pinch hitter Michelle Thiry doubled and notched two RBI as the sixth-ranked Stanford softball team defeated No. 8 Washington, 5-1, this evening at the Boyd and Jill Smith Family Stadium in Stanford, Calif. The Cardinal improve to 41-13 overall, 11-5 in Pac-10 play while the Huskies fall to 35-13, 9-6 in league action.
The Cardinal jumped on the board first, scoring two quick runs in the bottom of the first inning. Freshman Jackie Rinehart got things going for Stanford with a leadoff single. Rinehart advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Heather Shook. Sophomore Catalina Morris slapped a sharp single to left field, which was bobbled by Washington leftfielder Courtney Jeffries, allowing Rinehart to come all the way around from second to give Stanford a 1-0 lead. Morris advanced to second on the throw to the plate. Two batters later, senior catcher Jessica Allister gave the Cardinal a 2-0 lead with a single up the middle, driving in Morris.
The Huskies responded in the top of the second inning, cutting Stanford's lead to 2-1. Washington's Kathy Fiske drove a 1-1 offering from Stanford pitcher Dana Sorenson over the leftfield wall.
Both pitchers settled down after the second inning, each posting two shutout innings.
The Cardinal exploded for three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to open up a 5-1 lead. Sophomore shortstop Lauren Lappin got things going for the Cardinal with a leadoff single. Lappin advanced to second on a groundout by Jessica Allister, and would come around to score on an RBI single up the middle by Leah Nelson. Elizabeth Bendig's sacrifice bunt moved Nelson over to second. Meghan Sickler then reached first on an error by Washington, allowing Shoney Hixson, who came in to pinch run for Nelson, to advance to third. Michelle Thiry came in to pinch hit and promptly doubled to deep center, driving in Hixson and Sickler.
Sorenson settled down after allowing the solo homerun to Fiske, retiring the next 10 batters. Sorenson ran into some trouble in the top of the sixth, allowing a leadoff single to Washington's Courtney Jeffries. Sorenson induced a fielder's choice groundball from Rita Roach, cutting down the lead runner, Jeffries. Roach advanced to second on an infield single by Dominique Lastrapes. With runners on first and second with one out, Sorenson caused Aimee Minor to ground into an inning ending double play.
Sorenson pitched the complete game, scattering five hits, while striking out six Huskies. With the win, Sorenson improved her season record to 26-7. Washington's Ashley Boek pitched five innings, allowing seven Cardinal hits. With the loss, Boek falls to 24-8 on the season.
Lappin led the Cardinal with two hits, while Rinehart, Morris, Allister, Nelson, Bendig, and Thiry each collected a hit. Thiry's two RBI's led Stanford, while Allister and Nelson also drove in runs for the Cardinal.
Fiske paced the Huskies with two hits, including her solo homerun in the top of the second inning.
Stanford is back in action tomorrow facing No. 3 UCLA at 2 p.m. at Boyd and Jill Smith Family Stadium.