May 6, 2012
STANFORD, Calif. - The 19th-ranked Stanford softball team shut out No. 14 Washington, 10-0 in five innings, on Senior Day, Sunday, at Smith Family Stadium. The Cardinal, which captured its second Pac-12 Conference series sweep of the year, improves to 36-16 overall and 9-12 in the Pac-12, while the Huskies fall to 36-17 and 7-16 in the conference.
Junior pitcher Teagan Gerhart registered her 30th win of the year, the fourth-best mark in a single season in school history. She allowed just four hits and two walks while picking up one strikeout. Washington sophomore Bryana Walker took the loss, falling to 9-5 overall.
Stanford's three seniors, Jenna Becerra, Maya Burns and Ashley Hansen, were honored prior to the start of Sunday's contest. Becerra finished with an RBI single, while Burns recorded a sacrifice fly. Hansen was hit by two pitches and scored two runs.
The Cardinal jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning. With the bases loaded and no outs in the bottom of the first, junior Jenna Rich drove in the first run of the game with a single to centerfield. Burns brought home Hansen with a sacrifice fly to right field. Rich scored from third on a wild pitch by Walker and then Becerra hit an RBI single to left field to score freshman Cassandra Roulund.
Stanford put up six runs in the bottom of the second, increasing the lead to 10-0. With the bases loaded, Roulund ripped a single through the left side, scoring Leah White and Hansen. Rich scored her second run of the game on a passed ball by Washington catcher Shawna Wright. Pinch hitter Tegan Schmidt and freshman Hanna Winter drew consecutive walks with the bases loaded to bring home Roulund and Becerra. Pinch runner Tylyn Wells scored the sixth run of the inning as White reached on a fielder's choice and Winter was safe at second on a throwing error by Husky third baseman Courtney Gano.
Stanford will wrap-up the Pac-12 regular season on the road next week at conference newcomer Utah. The Cardinal and Utes will play Thursday-Saturday, May 10-12 at Ute Field in Salt Lake City.