Feb. 13, 2009
San Diego, Calif. - The Stanford softball team (6-1) battled through the rain tonight in San Diego, and claimed an 8-3 victory over No. 24 Long Beach State (2-3). Due to the weather, the game was called complete after five innings.
Stanford was led by freshman shortstop Ashley Hansen, who went 3-for-3 and accounted for four Cardinal RBI. Stanford outhit Long Beach State, 7-6.
Senior pitcher Missy Penna (5-1) picked up the win in the circle, striking out eight batters in five innings. Long Beach State All-American Brooke Turner gave up six runs in three innings and took the loss for the 49ers.
The early part of Stanford's lineup used three consecutive singles to put the Cardinal in the board in the first inning. Hansen drove a single through the left side, which was followed by another shot to left by second baseman Maddy Coon. Cardinal catcher Rosey Neill then pushed Turner's 3-0 pitch up the middle, and Hansen raced around from second and beat the throw to the plate.
Neill's RBI was the 94th of her career, moving her onto the school's all-time top 10 list just over halfway into her career.
In the second inning, Stanford went back to work. Freshman Jenna Becerra drew a one-out walk, and with two outs, Alissa Haber notched an infield single. With two on, Hansen connected on Turner's 2-1 pitch, knocking it off the scoreboard in right field. The three-run homer was the second long ball of Hansen's career and extended her streak of multi-hit games to five.
Long Beach State pulled back within one in the top of the third however, using a bases-loaded double by junior second baseman Jodi Nakawatase to drive in three runs. Back-to-back singles by Ashley Weber and Jennifer Griffin started the inning, and after Stanford got two quick outs, Kristen Pocock drew a walk to load the bases. Nakawatase then got a hold of Penna's 3-2 pitch, lifting the ball to the wall in center field. Three runs came in on the play, and Nakawatase was thrown out trying to push for a triple.
Stanford found an answer in the bottom of the fourth, stretching the lead back to a comfortable margin. Turner walked two consecutive batters to start the inning, then was relieved by Bridgette Pagano. With one out, Hansen slipped her third hit of the game through the right side and drove in Becerra to pick up her fourth RBI. Coon drew a walk to load the bases, and with two outs, Shannon Koplitz unloaded on Pagano's 2-2 pitch, sending a three-RBI triple off the wall in left field.
Stanford's game against San Diego State that was originally scheduled for tonight has been moved to Sunday at 9 a.m. The Cardinal will no longer play a Sunday game against UC Santa Barbara. The tournament will run as scheduled in the morning, with Stanford slated to take on Utah State at 11:30 a.m.