April 16, 2011
STANFORD, Calif. - The No. 11 Stanford softball team defeated Oregon State, 8-1, to win the season series, Saturday at Smith Family Stadium. The Cardinal improves to 29-8 overall and 4-4 in the Pac-10, while the Beavers drop to 18-15 on the season and 1-7 in the conference.
Senior Ashley Chinn earned the win in the circle, moving to 14-2 on the season. She struck out four batters, while giving up just one run and one walk. Sophomore Teagan Gerhart entered the game in the sixth inning to register her second save of the season. Oregon State's Paige Hall took the loss, falling to 6-4 on the year.
Stanford tallied a season-high seven stolen bases in the game, including three by center fielder Sarah Hassman. The junior finished the day 3-3 with three runs scored and a walk. Freshman Corey Hanewich and sophomore Jenna Rich each tallied three hits, an RBI and a run scored in the contest.
Stanford posted three runs on the Beavers in the bottom of the first. The Cardinal registered four singles and four stolen bases in the inning. Junior shortstop Ashley Hansen tallied the first RBI, while Rich drove in the second run and then stole two bases, including home, for the third run of the inning.
The Cardinal tacked on another run in the second. With two outs, Hassman drew a walk and then stole her second base of the game to move into scoring position. Hanewich hit an RBI single up the middle to score Hassman.
Oregon State scored its first run of the weekend as Hall hit a solo home run to left field in the top of the fourth inning.
Stanford put the game out of reach in bottom of the sixth, scoring four more runs. Junior third baseman Jenna Becerra reached on an error by OSU third baseman Desiree Beltran. Gerhart laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Becerra. Hassman then hit an infield single and stole her third base of the game. After Hansen drew a walk to load the bases, sophomore pinch hitter Alix Van Zandt was hit by Hall to score Becerra for the RBI.
With two outs, the inning continued as Rich reached on an error by second baseman Maggie Doremus, scoring Hassman and Hansen. Van Zandt scored the final run of the game on a single to left field by junior Maya Burns.
The Cardinal and Beavers will wrap-up the three-game series, Sunday, Apr. 17. First pitch is scheduled for Noon at Smith Family Stadium.