May 21, 2005
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Stanford advanced to the Regional Championship game Sunday at 1 p.m., with a 9-1 win over Southern Illinois-Carbondale Saturday afternoon. The Salukis will play at seven tonight versus either Robert Morris or Missouri.
Opening day two of the 2005 NCAA Softball Regional tournament, sixth-seeded Stanford scored early to gain the 1-0 lead in front of 477 fans at University Field. Cardinal shortstop Laura Lappin was the first to reach base after drawing four balls from Southern Illinois pitching ace Amy Harre. Hitting from the three hole, third baseman Michelle Smith knocked a single to left field and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. After a brief meeting on the mound, Harre settled down and fanned cleanup batter Leah Nelson but gave up her second hit of the game and first run when Cardinal left fielder Jackie Rinehart cracked a single to left field to score Lappin. Playing strong defense, the Salukis held the Cardinal to only one run, landing the third out on a throw from the outfield to awaiting catcher Amanda Clifton who tagged Smith at the plate.
The Cardinal managed to close out the bottom of the first without surrendering their one run lead, but the Saluki's answered with a solo home run to left field by shortstop Lauren Haas. After giving up the long ball, right-handed pitcher Becky McCullough helped close out the inning forcing the next three SIU batters to pop out.
The Cardinal regained their lead when Nelson doubled to the gap in left center scoring Lappin from first. Nelson took third on a throwing error by Haas forcing SIU Head Coach Kerri Blaylock to go to the bull pen for relief. Making her first appearance on the mound at this year's post-season tournament, sophomore Cassidy Scoggins entered the game and gave up a double to Rinehart on her first toss. Meaghan Sickler singled scoring Rinehart giving Stanford a 4-1 lead.
In the top of the fifth inning Nelson hit a two-run homer to right scoring pinch runner Senior Heather Shook from first giving the Stanford a 6-1 lead. Stanford kept the pressure on scoring 3 runs in the seventh on back to back home runs. Smith went deep to left scoring Lappin, and Nelson followed with a solo shot of her own to right field.