March 5, 2004
Fullerton, Calif. - Second baseman Meghan Sickler knocked in the winning run on a bleeder to rightfield in the sixth inning as the 10th-ranked Stanford softball team edged Oklahoma State, 7-6, in its opening game of the CS Fullerton Worth Invitational in Fullerton, Calif. The Cardinal improve to 14-5 on the year, while OSU falls to 12-8.
The Cowgirls roughed up starting pitcher Laura Severson in the top of the first inning scoring four runs on three hits.
The Cardinal got on the board in the bottom of the first as Catalina Morris hit a towering homerun to rightfield with two outs.
Oklahoma State picked up two more runs in the top of the fifth in an error-prone Cardinal inning.
Stanford got the two runs back in the bottom of the inning. Catcher Jesscia Allister was hit by a pitch before first baseman Leah Nelson hit a homer to rightfield.
The Cardinal threatened again in the bottom of the sixth inning as Jackie Rinehart and Katherine Hoffman hit infield singles to open the inning. After Catalina Morris walked, shortstop Lauren Lappin doubled up the middle to score Rinehart and Hoffman. Second baseman Meghan Sickler then hit a bloop single to right field to score Morris and Lappin as the Cardinal took the 7-6 lead.
Laura Severson (5-2) recorded the win for Stanford, allowing five earned runs over five innings with three strikeouts. Senior Dana Sorensen picked up her third save on the season pitching a scoreless seventh inning.
Lauren Lappin, Meghan Sickler and Leah Nelson eached tallied two RBIs for Stanford while Catalina Morris had two runs scored.
Stanford will take on Cal State Northridge at 4 p.m. today in continued tournament action.