May 16, 2009
Stanford, Calif. - With junior Alissa Haber and freshman Ashley Hansen once again blazing the trail, the Stanford softball team (46-9) continued its postseason roll today. The Cardinal, the No. 8 national seed, run-ruled Nevada (40-18), 9-1 in five innings, and advances to play for its sixth regional title tomorrow.
Stanford must take just one of two from Cal Poly on Championship Sunday to advance to its fourth NCAA Super Regional in five years.
Senior pitcher Missy Penna threw a two-hitter, with a solo home run by Jessica Haight preventing the shutout. She walked two and struck out five in the game and improves to 33-6.
Nevada starter Katie Holverson (28-10) took the loss after allowing six runs in 3.2 innings of work.
Stanford's offense was fueled by Haber and Hansen for the second straight day. Each player was 3-for-4, and each recorded her 23rd double of the season to tie the school record that Sarah Beeson set in 2001. Haber's double, the 54th of her career, moved her into the Pac-10's all-time top 10 as well.
Haber had four RBI, while Hansen had two. Hansen's three hits included her 80th of the season, and her single in the fourth inning tied Jessica Mendoza's school record for hits in a freshman season (81). Haber and Hansen now both have reached 80 hits on the year, a feat only Mendoza (1999, 2000, 2001) and Jackie Rinehart (2004) had previously accomplished. They are the first pair to record 80 hits in the same season.
Freshman outfielder Maya Burns was 2-for-3 with a double, while fellow rookie Sarah Hassman tallied two RBI. Stanford run-ruled an opponent for the first time since March 6 and outhit the Wolfpack, 11-2.
Nevada threatened first, using Penna's only two walks of the game to get two on with nobody out in the first inning. Penna struck out the Wolfpack clean-up hitter however, then forced a ground ball to get out of the jam. She was two hits and an error short of perfect the rest of the way.
After a slow start, Burns finally ignited the offense with a leadoff single in the third inning. With two outs, Haber pushed her forward with another single and Hansen crushed a ball off the center field wall. The record-tying double scored both Burns and Haber, giving Stanford a 2-0 lead.
In the fourth, Stanford exploded again, this time batting through the order, scoring four runs and forcing Nevada to put in relief pitcher Mallary Darby. Melisa Koutz started the rally with a one-out walk, advanced on a ground out and scored on Burns' double. Burns advanced on an ensuring Nevada error and Jenna Becerra stole second to put two in scoring position for Hassman. The freshman grounded a ball to third base and reached when the Wolfpack failed to get Becerra at third base. Burns scored on the play, and after another Cardinal stolen base, Haber came through with a single up the middle. After three and a half, Stanford held a 6-0 lead.
Haight responded with her solo home run in the bottom of the fourth, but that would be the only damage Nevada could manage. Stanford surged into run-rule territory in the fifth, and held on for the win.
Stanford's fifth-inning rally came on three hits, including Haber's record-tying double. For the second time, Koutz walked to start things off. The sophomore advanced on a single by Rosey Neill and scored on a two-out single by Hassman. Hassman picked up her second stolen base of the game, and later scored on Haber's double.
First pitch with the Mustangs is set for 1 p.m. tomorrow at Smith Family Stadium. Should a second game be necessary, it will begin at approximately 3:30 p.m.