April 11, 2011
STANFORD, Calif. - The 13th-ranked Stanford softball team plays host to Bay Area rival San Jose State, Tuesday, Apr. 12. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. from Smith Family Stadium.
The Cardinal (26-8) is coming off a strong showing on the road at No. 6 UCLA, taking the series 2-1. Stanford defeated the Bruins 6-2 on Apr. 9 and 5-1 on Apr. 10. The team's opened the weekend with a 14-inning 6-5 win for UCLA. Stanford pitcher Teagan Gerhart threw a career high 13.0 innings in the contest.
Leading the way offensively for the Cardinal was junior shortstop Ashley Hansen. The Chandler, Ariz., native hit .615 on the weekend (8-13) with two doubles, three RBI and two runs scored. Gerhart also produced offensivley, hitting .429 on the weekend, including a double, three runs scored and two stolen bases.
A pair of freshman also came up big for the Cardinal in Los Angeles. Cory Hanewich and Danielle Miller combined to drive in 11 of Stanford's 16 runs on the weekend. All three of Hanewich's hits went for extra bases (double, triple and a home run), while Miller registered a team-high six RBI.
San Jose State (16-25) went 2-2 last week, defeating UC Davis on Apr. 6 and Utah State in the second game of a double-header, Saturday. The win over the Aggies was the Spartans' second WAC win of the season.
San Jose State is led by its underclassmen - sophomore Cheryl Freitas and freshman Annica Wolfe. Freitas leads the team with four home runs and 22 RBI, while Wolfe paces the squad with a .327 batting average, 34 hits and 20 RBI.
Stanford holds a 20-10 all-time record over San Jose State. The Cardinal defeated the Spartans, 4-1, last season and are currently on a 10-game winning streak against SJSU.