Alabama Edges Stanford In Elimination Game

May 27, 2011

Box Score

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The No. 15 seed Stanford softball team fell, 1-0, to No. 2 seed Alabama, Friday, in the elimination game of the Tuscaloosa Super Regional at Rhoads Stadium. The Cardinal ends the year at 42-17 overall, while the Crimson Tide moves on with a 51-9 record.

Sophomore pitcher Teagan Gerhart, who threw a no-hitter through the first 4.1 innings, ends the season with a 26-13 record. She finished with six strikeouts, while allowing just one run on four hits. Alabama's Jackie Traina entered the game in the fourth and earned the win, moving to 18-5 on the year.

Stanford senior Melisa Koutz led the team with two hits in the game. Juniors Sarah Hassman and Maya Burns each tallied hits for the Cardinal.

Stanford loaded the bases in the second with one out, taking advantage of an error by Alabama second baseman Kaila Hunt. However, Dunne got out of the jam by striking out Gerhart and getting the out at the plate as junior Sarah Hassman reached on a fielder's choice.

The Cardinal had two runners in scoring position in the top of the fourth, but was unable to capitalize. Gerhart struck out the side in the bottom half of the inning to keep the game scoreless.

Alabama broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI triple down the right line by first baseman Cassie Reilly-Boccia, which scored Traina.

Stanford had one last chance in the top of the seventh, but Traina retired the Cardinal in order to punch Alabama's ticket to the Women's College World Series.

Junior shortstop Ashley Hansen, one of three finalists for National Player of the Year, ends the year with the highest single season batting average (.495) in Stanford history. She also set a new single season record for hits in a season with 95.