Feb. 24, 2009
Stanford, Calif. - The Stanford softball team (13-1) started slow, but used a four-run fourth inning to find its offensive rhythm and defeat Saint Mary's tonight, 6-0, at Smith Family Stadium.
The Cardinal was led by junior Shannon Koplitz and freshman Ashley Hansen, who each recorded two hits in the win. Koplitz, who also drove in two runs, slammed her fourth career triple in the fourth inning.
Sophomore pitcher Ashley Chinn (4-0) earned the win in the circle, fanning 10 Gaels and allowing just one hit in seven innings of work. Her 10 K's were just one short of a career high, and the shutout was the fourth of her career. Freshman Brittany Linton (0-4) took the loss for the Gaels after giving up four runs in four innings.
Stanford outhit Saint Mary's, 9-1. Outfielder Kayla Aldridge notched the Gaels only hit in the second inning, driving a two-out single up the middle. The teams made a combined six errors, with four by the Gaels costing the team four unearned runs.
After stranding five runners in the first three innings, the Cardinal finally capitalized on its opportunities in the fourth inning. Sophomore first baseman Melisa Koutz started the rally with a lead-off single through the left side, and beat out the throw to second on an ensuing bunt by Brittany Minder. Freshman Jenna Becerra reached on an error to load the bases and, with one out, Alissa Haber pounded a ball to center field that was mishandled and allowed two runs to score. Hansen used a sacrifice fly to score Becerra on the next play, and Koplitz laced her triple to right center to bring Haber around and give Stanford a 4-0 lead.
In the sixth inning, Stanford sent eight batters to the plate and added a pair of insurance runs. Hansen doubled to start a two-out Cardinal rally and scored on Koplitz' second hit of the game on the next play. After the Gaels' fourth error of the night pushed Koplitz to second, freshman Maya Burns dropped a single into right field that gave her her sixth RBI of the season and rounded out the scoring, 6-0.
Stanford heads to Southern California this weekend to take part in the DeMarini Invitational hosted by Cal State Fullerton. The Cardinal's first game of the tournament is slated for 9 a.m. on Friday against Indiana.