April 22, 2011
BERKELEY, Calif. - The 10th-ranked Stanford softball team held on to even the series at No. 12 California with a 2-1 win, Friday, at Levine-Fricke Field in Berkeley, Calif. The Cardinal improves to 32-9 overall and 6-5 in the Pac-10, while the Golden Bears fall to 29-9 on the year and 6-5 in the conference.
Senior pitcher Ashley Chinn earned the win in the circle, moving to 15-2 on the year. She recorded two strikeouts and gave up just three hits in 4.0 innings. Sophomore Teagan Gerhart entered the game in the fifth and picked up her third save of the season. Cal's Jolene Henderson took the loss, dropping to 26-6.
Stanford came out swinging, scoring two runs in the top of the first. Junior Sarah Hassman led off with an infield single and then stole second base. She advanced to third on a single up the middle by junior shortstop Ashley Hansen. With two outs, sophomore Jenna Rich reached on an error by Cal first baseman Alex Robben as she scorched the ball down the right line to score Hassman and Hansen and put the Cardinal up 2-0.
Cal posted a run in the bottom half of the inning to cut the Cardinal lead in half. Shortstop Britt Vonk scored as center fielder Frani Echavarria reached on a fielder's choice.
After five scoreless innings, Stanford threatened in the seventh, but was unable to capitalize on an error by Echavarria. The Cardinal tallied two hits, but stranded three runners in the inning.
Cal had one last chance as it loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh with one out. However, Echavarria lined out to Gerhart, who threw over to Jenna Becerra at third for the double play to seal the victory.
The Cardinal and Bears will battle in the series finale, Saturday, Apr. 23. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. from Levine-Fricke Field.