Feb. 6, 2009
Tempe, Ariz. - The Stanford softball team (1-0) started the new season on fire this morning, routing McNeese State (0-2) in five innings, 15-2. The Cardinal scored 13 runs in the first inning, and sent 17 batters to the plate, 13 of which came up before McNeese State got its first out.
Stanford outhit the Cowgirls, 8-4, and drew 11 walks. Junior Alissa Haber, sophomore Brittany Minder and junior Rosey Neill paced Stanford with two hits apiece. Freshman Ashley Hansen hit a home run on her first collegiate at-bat and finished the day with three RBI. Minder also hit a home run, the second of her collegiate career, and junior Shannon Koplitz crushed a first-inning grand slam.
Sophomore pitcher Ashley Chinn (1-0) got the start for Stanford and struck out seven in her sophomore debut. Cowgirl starter Michelle LaVoie (0-1) took the loss after giving up the first five runs of the game.
After retiring three of the first four McNeese State batters, Stanford exploded on its first offensive chance of the year. Haber started the rally with a double off the top of the center field fence and Hansen followed by launching the first hit of her career deep to left field. Stanford received eight walks over the next 10 at-bats, and after senior Maddy Coon walked for the second time of the inning, Stanford had sent every single player across to nab a 9-0 lead. With the bases full, Koplitz unloaded on her first career grand slam, driving in four more runs to give Stanford a 13-0 lead.
After the damaging first inning, McNeese State was able to slow the pace. Cowgirl sophomore Katie Shumaker stepped in and allowed just two runs over the next three innings. In the second frame, Haber registered her second hit of the morning and scored when Neill drilled a ball through the left side.
In the third inning, Minder launched a solo shot over the left field wall. Minder reached on all three plate appearances and scored twice in her fourth career start.
McNeese State had seven base runners in the game and left three in scoring position. The Cowgirls got their first run in the third inning, when left fielder Claire Terracina singled and later scored on a fielder's choice. McNeese State's second run came on a fourth-inning solo home run by sophomore Whitney Corbello.
Stanford's win was its largest since defeating Pacific, 16-2, in five innings last February. The team scored in double figures nine times in 2008.
Stanford will play Oklahoma State in its second game today, with first pitch set for noon at Farrington Stadium in Tempe.