Feb. 23, 2008
Cathedral City, Calif. - The Stanford softball team stayed perfect today, besting its third ranked opponent in a matter of 24 hours at the Palm Springs Classic in Cathedral City, Calif. In its fifth game of the tournament, the Cardinal took care of No. 18/21 Ohio State, 3-1, and improved to 15-0 on the year. The start is the best in program history.
Seniors Michelle Smith and Erin Howe each had three hits in the game to lead the Cardinal offense. Howe doubled twice, marking her second multiple-double game of the year. Junior pitcher Missy Penna struck out eight batters and earned her 11th win of the season, while Kim Reeder took just her second loss of the year for Ohio State. The Cardinal outhit the Buckeyes, 12-4, and recorded hits in all but the last inning. Eight of the nine Cardinal batters reached at least once, and six different players recorded hits. As a team, Stanford has recorded at least one double in 12 of its 15 games.
From the get-go, Stanford had no trouble putting runners on, but scoring those runners proved more difficult. Despite recording its third-largest hit total of the season (12), Stanford left nine runners stranded and recorded its fourth-lowest run total of the year (3).
Stanford's first run came right away. Sophomore Alissa Haber started the Cardinal off with an infield single in the top of the first inning, and Maddy Coon walked to put a second runner on for Stanford. Smith then pounded a ball to the fence in left field. With the runners holding up for the catch, the blast loaded the bases and went in the books as a long single. Freshman Melisa Koutz came through on the next at bat, sending a single through the right side to score Haber. Two fielder's choice plays ended the inning, stranding three Cardinal runners on the base paths.
Stanford added another run in the third inning. Smith doubled to lead things off, and moved to third on a ground out by Koutz. Shannon Koplitz then pounded a sacrifice fly to deep left field, scoring Smith to give Stanford a 2-0 lead.
Three hits in the sixth inning helped the Cardinal push another notch ahead. Howe doubled to lead off the inning, and an infield single by Anna Beardman put runners at the corners. On a double steal play, Howe was thrown out at the plate, but Beardman cruised into second. Haber stepped up with her second hit of the day, driving a ball to right field and sending Beardman home.
Ohio State answered with a run of its own in the bottom of the sixth, as a series of three infield singles loaded the bases to start the inning. With three on and the Buckeyes' top hitter, Sam Marder, at the plate, Penna and the Stanford defense stepped up. One run scored on a ground out to the shortstop, and Smith held a runner at third base on a ensuing ground out. A grounder to second base finished the inning, keeping the Cardinal's lead in tact.
Penna retired three of four batters in the bottom of the seventh, and the Cardinal finished with its 15th consecutive win.
Stanford will finish out the tournament tomorrow morning, facing No. 25 Texas in its sixth game of the weekend.