May 1, 2011
STANFORD, Calif. - The 13th-ranked Stanford softball team captured the series win over 11th-ranked Washington with a 3-1 win, Sunday, at Smith Family Stadium. The Cardinal now stands at 35-11 overall and 8-7 in the Pac-10, while the Huskies fall to 32-10 on the season and 7-8 in the conference.
Sophomore pitcher Teagan Gerhart earned her 20th win of the season. She tossed her 21st complete game of the season, striking out eight Huskies without issuing a walk. Washington's Bryana Walker took the loss, dropping to 3-4 on the year.
The Cardinal captured the early lead, scoring a run in the bottom of the second. Senior Melisa Koutz drew a walk and then advanced to second as junior Maya Burns reached on a fielder's choice. Junior Jenna Becerra loaded the bases with a single through the left side. With two outs, junior Sarah Hassman ripped the ball to right field as Koutz scored the first run of the game.
Stanford loaded the bases again the third, but was unable to capitalize. Sophomore Jenna Rich led off with a single to center field. Freshman Michelle Prong then reached on a fielder's choice and Koutz drew her second walk of the game. With just one out, the Huskies made a pitching change and brought in freshman Kaitlin Ingelsby, who threw the first two games of the series. She got UW out of the jam as Burns reached on a fielder's choice and Rich was out at the plate, and then Becerra stuck out to end the inning.
The Cardinal increased its lead to 3-0 in the fourth. Three consecutive singles by Gerhart, Hassman and junior Ashley Hansen loaded the bases with no outs. Rich then drew a walk for the RBI which scored Gerhart. Prong reached on a fielder's choice and picked up the RBI as Washington shortstop Jenn Salling threw to home as Hassman slid in safely.
The Huskies avoided the shutout as they scored one run in the top of the sixth. Salling hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to score Morgan Stuart from third.
Gerhart closed out the game by striking out the side in the top of the seventh. She has now reached the 20-win plateau in each of her first two seasons on The Farm.
Up next, Stanford will host its final game of the regular season as it welcomes the Santa Clara Broncos on Tuesday, May 3 to Smith Family Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.