Feb. 14, 2009
Stanford, Calif. - Freshman Ashley Hansen led Stanford's 11-hit performance, as the Cardinal softball team posted a 9-5 victory over Utah State today at the Campbell/Cartier Classic in San Diego.
Hansen went 3-for-5 with two triples and three RBI and has now posted two or more hits in six consecutive games. Her pair of triples matched performances by Anna Beardman and Catalina Morris in 2006 as the only multiple-triple games in school history.
Junior Alissa Haber also went 3-for-5 in the game, and ripped a triple of her own. The Cardinal outfielder scored three times, including the 100th run of her career.
Senior second baseman Maddy Coon went 2-for-3 with two walks. In the fourth inning, she drew her 115th career walk, tying the school record set by Sarah Beeson in 2002. Three innings later, she walked again to become the school's all-time career leader in the category. With three RBI in the game as well, Coon also moved into seventh place on the program's career RBI chart.
Sophomore Ashley Chinn pitched her second complete game of the year, fanned eight batters and improved to 2-0. She struck out the 100th batter of her career in the first inning, and moved onto the school's top-10 career strikeout list when she struck out the side in the fifth.
Haber started the Cardinal rally right off the bat, leading off the game with her triple through the right side. Coon popped a single up the middle to drive her in for Stanford's first run of the game, and two batters later, Shannon Koplitz singled to score Coon.
In the second inning, Stanford tacked on four more. Freshman Jenna Becerra, who made her first career start at first base, singled to right field on her opening at-bat. Fellow newcomer Sarah Hassman then reached on a Utah State error, and Haber loaded the bases with an infield single. Hansen stepped up and pounded Stanford's second triple of the game over the head of the Aggie center fielder, clearing the bases and giving Stanford a 5-0 lead. The freshman scored on the next play, when Coon reached on Utah State's second error of the inning.
In the fourth, Coon's first walk, along with an Aggie error and Hansen's second hit of the game, loaded the bases for Koplitz. The Cardinal third baseman worked a full count walk to score Haber and build Stanford's lead to 7-0.
The Aggies broke up Chinn's shutout in the bottom of the fourth inning, picking up two of their five hits back-to-back to score a run. Sophomore catcher Shasta Tyteca singled and scored on a long double by sophomore left fielder Megan McDonald.
Stanford moved into position for a run-rule win in the top of the sixth. Hansen started the inning with her second triple of the game, and Coon drove her in with her 40th career double. A walk and a hit batter loaded the bases, and Coon scored on an infield hit by Becerra.
The 9-1 lead didn't hold, however, and Stanford gave up four runs in the bottom of the sixth to force another inning. With one out, a single, a hit batter and a walk loaded the bases for Aubrie Stroman. Stroman launched a sacrifice fly to center field to score one run and, on the very next at-bat, freshman Rayna Bradshaw homered to left to narrow the gap to 9-5.
Stanford will finish play at the Campbell/Cartier Classic tomorrow morning. The Cardinal, which was originally scheduled to take on UC Santa Barbara, will now take on 24th-ranked San Diego State. First pitch is set for 9 a.m. at the SDSU Softball Complex.