May 3, 2011
STANFORD, Calif. - The No. 10 Stanford softball team shut out Santa Clara, 12-0 in five innings, Tuesday, in the team's regular season finale at Smith Family Stadium. The Cardinal improves to 36-11 overall, while the Broncos fall to 6-29.
Senior Ashley Chinn recorded her fifth shutout of the season and improved to 16-3 overall. She allowed just two hits and struck out four batters in the win. Santa Clara's Jenna Fong took the loss, dropping to 5-10 on the year.
The Cardinal scored three runs on four hits in the bottom of the first inning. Sophomore Alix Van Zandt registered her first double of the season, scoring Sarah Hassman and Jenna Rich. Freshman Danielle Miller knocked in the third run on a single to left field.
Stanford increased its lead to 4-0 in the second. Miller drew a walk with the bases loaded to score Hassman.
A five-run third inning pushed the Cardinal lead to 9-0. Junior shortstop Ashley Hansen singled up the middle with the bases loaded to score Jenna Becerra. Chinn, who reached on a walk, scored on a wild pitch by Santa Clara's Jessica Turner. Rich then blasted her ninth home run of the season, a three run shot to left centerfield.
A two-run double by Hansen increased the lead to 12-0 in the fourth. It was her second double of the game and 23rd of the season, which leads the Pac-10. Sophomore Caitlin Breen tallied her first collegiate hit and RBI, scoring Hansen for the 12th run of the game.
Stolen bases by Rich and Becerra give the Cardinal 82 for the season, tying the school record set a year ago.
Up next, Stanford travels to Eugene, Ore., to take on the Oregon Ducks for a three-game Pac-10 Conference series. The games are scheduled for Friday-Sunday, May 6-8.