May 13, 2011
TEMPE, Ariz. - The Stanford bats came alive as the 11th-ranked Cardinal upset No. 1 Arizona State, 6-1, Friday, at Farrington Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. The Cardinal improves to 38-14 overall and 10-10 in the Pac-10, while the Sun Devils fall to 49-6 overall and 16-4 in the conference.
Juniors Sarah Hassman and Ashley Hansen, and sophomore Jenna Rich each registered a home run for the Cardinal in the win. Hassman and Rich's were both two-run shots, while Hansen hit the second long ball in as many games.
Senior Ashley Chinn earned the start in the circle. She threw 2.2 innings, allowing one run on three hits with three strikeouts. Sophomore pitcher Teagan Gerhart entered the game in the third inning and picked up the win to move to 22-10 on the season. ASU's Mackenzie Popescue took the loss, dropping to 13-3.
Stanford posted a four-run third inning to take a sizeable advantage over the top-ranked Sun Devils. Junior Jenna Becerra led off the inning and was hit by ASU pitcher Mackenzie Popescue. She advanced to second as catcher Kelsey Gerhart laid down her first career sacrifice bunt. With one out, the Cardinal registered another first as Hassman hit one out of the park for the first time in her collegiate career.
The third inning continued, still with one out, as Hansen recorded an infield single. She scored as Rich hit the second two-run home run of the inning for the Cardinal. The ball, which sailed well over the ASU scoreboard, put Stanford up 4-0.
The Sun Devils managed to get one run across the plate in the bottom half of the inning. Catcher Kaylyn Castillo drew a walk to lead off the inning. After stealing second, Castillo advanced to third on a wild pitch and then scored on another wild pitch by Chinn.
Stanford added another run in the fifth inning. Rich tallied an RBI single to right field, her third RBI of the game, to score Hassman from third.
Hansen capped off the scoring for the Cardinal with a solo home run in the top of the seventh. It was the second long ball in as many days for the Chandler, Ariz., native.
The Stanford victory snaps ASU's 12-game winning streak in conference play.
Stanford and ASU wrap-up the three-game series, Saturday, May 14 at 12 p.m. at Farrington Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.