April 23, 2013
STANFORD, Calif. - The No. 15/17 Stanford softball team travels to Stockton, Calif., on Wednesday, April 24 to face the Pacific Tigers. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. PT from Bill Simoni Field.
The Cardinal and Tigers have met once earlier this season with Stanford coming away with a 2-0 victory in its Lousiville Slugger Classic on March 10. Senior Teagan Gerhart picked up her 11th win in the circle in the contest. Senior Sarah Hassman was 2-for-3 with an RBI, while junior Corey Hanewich hit a sacrifice fly and scored a run in the win.
The Cardinal is coming off a 1-2 Pac-12 roadtrip at No. 14 Washington. Stanford (29-15) is currently fifth in the conference with a 6-9 record. Four of the Cardinal's nine losses have come by one run.
Last week, senior Jenna Rich hit two home runs against the Huskies, moving her into sole possession of second place on Stanford's career list. She has 41 and is now nine away from the record of 50 set by Jessica Mendoza in 2002. Rich is also second on the career RBI charts with 197 and needs just five to break Sarah Beeson's record of 201.
Pacific (27-22, 12-6 Big West) dropped its series at Cal State Northridge last weekend, falling in a doubleheader on Saturday before winning the series finale on Sunday. Stanford leads the all-time series against Pacific 24-10.
Seniors Megan Hom and Nikki Armagost lead Pacific offensively, hitting .357 and .333, respectively. Hom paces the team with 56 hits, while Armagost has 17 doubles, three home runs and a team-best 35 RBI. Armagost is also 11-5 in the circle with a 1.50 ERA and 87 strikeouts.
Up next, Stanford continues Pac-12 play at home, welcoming Utah, April 26-28, to Smith Family Stadium. Friday and Sunday's games will be televised by the Pac-12 Networks.