May 17, 2007

Box Score |  Quotes

Stanford, Calif. - The No. 16/18 Cardinal softball team dropped a tight 2-0 decision to the No. 23 Fresno State Bulldogs tonight in the team's first game of the Stanford Regional. The Bulldogs scored a pair of runs in the second, and held on through five more scoreless innings to earn the win. Stanford falls to 33-20-1 with the loss, while Fresno State improves to 47-16.

Fresno State did its scoring in the second inning, using two of the team's five hits to score a pair of runs. Merryann Barr led off the inning with a double to left field, and a second runner reached when Nichole Willis was hit by a pitch. A Robin Mackin single loaded the bases, and the first run scored on a ground out to shortstop by Ashley White. On the next play, Shannon Garvin grounded to shortstop, scoring Willis, but the Cardinal turned a double play and threw out Mackin to end the inning.

Stanford had four hits in the game, as Jackie Rinehart, Rosey Neill, Erin Howe and Michelle Smith all notched singles. Alissa Haber and Maddy Coon both hit balls to the warning track with runners on, but the Fresno State outfield was able to keep the Cardinal off the board. Missy Penna allowed just five hits and struck out seven in her 12th loss of the season.

Stanford will play Cal State Northridge in an elimination game tomorrow at 3 p.m. while Fresno State will meet LSU in the first game of the day at noon.