May 14, 2011
TEMPE, Ariz. - The No. 11/12 Stanford softball teams fell in its Pac-10 Conference regular season finale, 4-1, at No. 1 No. 1 Arizona State, Saturday, at Farrington Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. The Cardinal ends the regular season with a 38-15 overall record and a 10-11 mark in the Pac-10, while the Sun Devils (50-6), who clinched the conference title on Thursday, finish 17-4 in the Pac-10.
Stanford and ASU each tallied four hits on the day. Juniors Sarah Hassman and Ashley Hansen each registered a single and a double for the Cardinal.
Sophomore pitcher Teagan Gerhart falls to 22-11 on the year with the loss. She finished with four strikeouts, while allowing four runs and issuing seven walks. ASU's Dallas Escobedo earned the win, improving to 27-3 overall.
Stanford took a 1-0 lead in the third. Escobedo walked four Cardinal batters in the inning, including freshman Michelle Prong who recorded the RBI as Gerhart scored.
ASU posted a four-run fifth inning to capture the lead. The Devils scored their first run on an RBI double by shortstop Katelyn Boyd. After Stanford intentionally walked catcher Kaylyn Castillo, right fielder Annie Lockwood hit a line drive over the left field wall to push the ASU lead to 4-1.
The Cardinal now awaits its postseason fate. The 2011 NCAA selection show will air on Sunday, May 15 at 7 p.m. PT on ESPNU.