May 18, 2008
Amherst, Mass. - The 12th-seeded Cardinal softball team gave up two costly unearned runs in the first inning, and was upended by the host Massachusetts Minutewomen in the first game of today's NCAA Regional Championship in Amherst, Mass. The Cardinal will face UMass again beginning at approximately 3:30 p.m. (ET) this afternoon to decide the regional title.
Stanford committed its first two errors of the postseason in the top of the first inning and allowed two UMass runners to come across. Shortstop Whitney Williams reached on a Cardinal throwing error to lead off the game and advanced to second on an infield single by Lauren Proctor. A passed ball then moved both runners into scoring position. The first run scored on a ground out to Maddy Coon and the second scored on a Cardinal miscue when Samantha Salato dribbled a ball near the first-base foul line.
The Cardinal had its chances to come back, but pitcher Brandice Balschmiter and the UMass defense managed to prevent the Cardinal from making much progress. In the third inning, Stanford recorded back-to-back hits to put two runners in scoring position, but Balschmiter came up with a critical two-out strikeout to retire the side.
In the sixth, Coon reached on an error and Rosey Neill pounded a ball to the wall in right center. UMass center fielder Carly Normandin made a long run to make the catch at the wall, then gunned down Coon, who had already rounded second.
In the final inning, Stanford made another run, this time getting on the board. Michelle Smith led off with a single, and another single by Erin Howe and a UMass error loaded the bases with nobody out. Senior Tricia Aggabao ripped a sacrifice fly to score pinch runner Michelle Schroeder, but that was all the Cardinal could muster. On the next play, the Minutewomen threw out the lead runner on an infield ground ball, and Balschmiter caught Alissa Haber looking to end the game.
After fanning 11 in the first meeting between the two teams, Missy Penna struck out just five batters in the game and committed two fielding errors. Her five strikeouts were enough to lift her over 400 on the year, however, as she fanned Sarah Reeves in the sixth inning to nab No. 400. Penna is just the eighth pitcher in Pac-10 history, and the first at Stanford, to record 400 K's in a single season.
Stanford outhit UMass, 6-5. Howe went 2-for-3 to pace the Cardinal offense.
Stanford and UMass will meet for the regional title beginning at approximately 3:30 pm (ET) this afternoon.