April 25, 2004
Seattle, Wash. - Second baseman Meghan Sickler knocked in the winning run in the top of the eighth as the Stanford softball team defeated No. 6 Washington, 3-2, in extra innings in Seattle, Wash. The Cardinal improve to 38-12, 8-4 in the Pac-10 while the Huskies fall to 32-11, 6-3 in league play.
Stanford is now 2-1 in extra innings games this season.
Freshman Jackie Rinehart led off the first inning with a walk. With one out, Catalina Morris also drew a walk, then Lauren Lappin was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Jessica Allister hit a two RBI single to leftfield, scoring Rinehart and Morris to take a 2-0 lead.
Washington tied up the game in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run home run by Sarah Hyatt.
Stanford threatened in the top of the seventh with the bases loaded with two outs but were unable to get a run across and the game remained tied going into the bottom of the inning.
With one out in the eighth, Jessica Allister was hit by a pitch. After a strikeout by Leah Nelson, Elizabeth Bendig singled to rightfield. Meghan Sickler then hit a single to leftfield, scoring Allister to give the Cardinal the 3-2 lead.
Cardinal hurler Dana Sorensen retired three consecutive Husky batters in the bottom of the eighth to close out the game and secure another victory for Stanford.
Jessica Allister went 1-for-3 at the plate with two RBI while Elizabeth Bendig had a 2-for-4 effort. Meghan Sickler went 1-for-2 with the game-winning RBI as well.
Washington was led by Sarah Hyatt's 2-for-3 effort with 2 RBI.
Senior righthander Dana Sorensen (23-7) struck out the first eight batters of the game and retired the first 10 batters. Sorensen, scattered three hits over eight innings with 14 strikeouts on the afternoon. Washington's Ashley Boek (21-7) took the loss for the Huskies, allowing three runs on seven hits in seven innings of work with eight strikeouts.
The Cardinal are back in action next weekend, traveling to Arizona and Arizona State in continued conference action. Stanford will take on the Sun Devils on Friday, April 30 at 7 p.m. then travel to Tucson to take on the Wildcats on Saturday and Sunday.