May 8, 2008
Tempe, Ariz. - In one thrilling night, junior pitcher Missy Penna struck out a school-record 17 batters, broke the school's single-season strikeout record, matched the school's single-season win record and carried the No. 8/8 Stanford softball team to a 2-1, ten-inning upset of No. 2/2 Arizona State at Farrington Stadium in Tempe.
And to make Penna's effort all worthwhile, freshman Melisa Koutz couldn't have picked a better time for her first collegiate homerun. The rookie designated player belted the game-winning homer in the top of the tenth, her third game-winning hit in conference play.
Stanford improves to 46-10 overall and 11-8 in the Pac-10, while the Sun Devils were handed just their fifth loss of the year and drop to 54-5 overall and 16-3 in the Pac-10.
Penna (34-9) earned her 34th win of the year, matching Dana Sorensen's single-season win record from 2004. Her 17 K's bested the previous single-game record of 16 set by herself (2007) and Sorensen (2001), and moved her past the school's single-season strikeout record to a new mark of 370. All-American Katie Burkhart took the loss for ASU and falls to 30-5.
The Sun Devils outhit the Cardinal, 6-3, behind outfielder Jackie Vasquez' 3-for-5 night. Stanford's three hits came on solo homeruns by Koutz and Rosey Neill and a bunt single in the second inning by Erin Howe.
In the top of the fourth, Neill started the scoring by giving Burkhart's 3-2 pitch a long ride over the wall in left field. The solo shot was the 18th long ball of the year for the Pac-10 homerun leader, moving her within one bomb of the school's single-season homerun record.
Stanford held onto the lead for an inning, as Penna struck out all three Sun Devils that came to the plate in the bottom of the fourth. Her first K of the inning, a five-pitch fanning of Krista Donnenwirth, tied the school's single-season strikeout record, and she wasted no time moving on to break that record. The Cardinal ace fanned the very next batter, Kristen Miller, to set a new school best with 359 K's on the year.
Penna wasn't done with her memorable strikeout night, however. She went on to record the highest strikeout total in school history, sitting down 17 ASU batters before the night was through.
In the bottom of the fifth, however, two costly hit batters allowed the Sun Devils to tie the game. Penna struck out the first batter of the inning, then pegged first baseman Katie Crabb with her 3-2 pitch to put the first runner on. After recording another strikeout, Penna hit freshman Lesley Rogers with another 3-2 pitch. Vasquez then stepped to the plate and ripped her second hit of the game to left field, scoring pinch runner Caylyn Carlson.
Penna continued to battle, shutting the Sun Devils down inning after inning. In the bottom of the ninth with bases loaded, she raced to cover the plate on a wild pitch and picked off Vasquez at third to end the inning.
In the top of the tenth, Koutz stepped up with her third game-winning hit in Pac-10 play. The freshman ripped her first career homerun over the right field wall on an 0-2 pitch from Burkhart.
With the lead back in her favor, Penna didn't even let the Sun Devils think of another comeback. In the bottom of the tenth, she struck out the side for the third time in the game, fanning all three Sun Devils that came to bat. Her strikeout of Renee Welty that ended the game broke the school record for single-game strikeouts.
The Cardinal heads to Tucson for its final two regular-season games, where it will battle the No. 9/11 Arizona Wildcats for third place in the Pac-10. The teams' first meeting is set for 7 p.m. tomorrow while the second will take place at noon on Saturday. Both will be played at Hillenbrand Stadium.