May 23, 2004
Stanford, Calif. - Senior hurler Dana Sorensen pitched a two-hitter as the seventh-ranked Stanford softball team defeated Hofstra, 3-1, this afternoon at Boyd and Jill Smith Stadium to advance to the College World Series. The Cardinal improve to 47-17 on the year while The Pride end their season with a 38-21 record.
Stanford will be making its second appearance at the College World Series - the first coming in 2001.
Leah Nelson's towering solo homerun to leftfield that cleared the scoreboard broke a 0-0 tie in the bottom of the fourth inning. Elizabeth Bendig followed that with a single to centerfield and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Katherine Hoffman doubled to leftfield, scoring Bendig and putting the Cardinal up, 2-0.
Catalina Morris led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a solo shot to rightfield help Stanford take a 3-0 lead.
Hofstra threatened in the top of the seventh, as Tara Ulrich scored on a fielder's choice by Lisa Torres, but Sorensen would get Kelly Morris to ground out to third base to secure the 3-1 win for the Cardinal.
Catalina Morris and Lauren Lappin each went 2-for-3 for the Cardinal while Jackie Rinehart had a 2-for-4 day at the plate. Leah Nelson went 1-for-2 with a run scored and an RBI. Jessica Allister and Katherine Hoffman each collected a hit as well.
Hofstra's Tara Ulrich went 1-for-3 at the plate with a run scored while Kelly Morris also chipped in with a 1-for-3 effort. Lisa Torres recorded the lone RBI.
Dana Sorensen (32-10) recorded the win for Stanford, scattering two hits over seven inning of work, allowing one unearned run and striking out five. Adrienne Clark (3-3) took the loss for The Pride, allowing three runs on nine hits over four innings of work.
NCAA Softball Region Seven All-Tournament Team
(in alphabetical order)
Jessica Allister, Stanford
Meaghan Almon, Hofstra
Adrienne Clark, Hofstra
Jennifer Curtier, Pacific
Jennifer Dacre, Pacific
Jenny Doehring, Southern Illinois
Amy Harre, Southern Illinois
Kristen Keyes, Auburn
Leah Nelson, Stanford
Jackie Rinehart, Stanford
Lisa Torres, Hofstra
MVP - Dana Sorensen, Stanford