Jenkins Homers Again in Stanford's 5-2 Win

Sunday, April 5

Eugene, Ore.

12:00 PM

University of Oregon

12-22, 1-6

Stanford

34-2, 5-1

Stanford

OREGON

04/05/09 | Softball

Box Score

By: GoDucks.com

* A boxscore and play-by-play is located in the LINKS box to the right, and updated season and career stats are available via the link above.

EUGENE - Senior Sari-Jane Jenkins hit her third homer of the season in the first inning, but No. 2 Stanford still held on to win, 5-2, over the University of Oregon softball team (12-22, 1-6) Sunday at Howe Field.

The senior from Salem, Ore., Jenkins launched her fifth career homer and second in three games after she hit a grand slam in UO's win Friday over No. 12 California.

Jenkins also had Oregon's other hit in Sunday's game, a bunt in the second inning that she advanced to third on after a throwing error by the catcher. She was left stranded, however, when the next three hitters in the heart of the Duck lineup popped up twice and struck out.

“My bat found the ball, and I was able to put a stroke on it," Jenkins said. "(As a team) We came out more prepared. Last night we went home and watched some film, and we were able to hit the ball hard. Unfortunately we ran out of innings, and didn't execute as well as we would have liked when we had runners on."

For UO (12-22, 1-6), Duck freshman Samantha Skillingstad (9-8) pitched her 10th complete game and struck out six, walked four, and three of her five runs allowed were earned. "The first inning I didn't do a good job mixing my pitches," Skillingstad. "As the game went on, I became less predictable and more effective.”

No. 2 Stanford (34-2, 5-1) jumped out a 3-0 lead in the first inning thanks to a pair of walks and two hits. Alissa Haber led off the game with a double to left field, then came around on a sacrifice bunt and passed ball, which was followed by a walk and subsequent two-run homer by Rosey Neill. The Cardinal added another run in the third inning on an RBI double by Neill, and a final run in the fourth on a dropped fly ball by the right fielder with two outs that allowed a runner to score from second base.

Stanford All-America pitcher and senior Missy Penna (24-2) started her third game in as many days and struck out five, walked two and both of her runs allowed were earned. Jenkins' home run was only the third that the current USA Softball National Player of the Week has allowed this season in 179 1/3 innings.

Two other Ducks reached base via walks - junior Neena Bryant in the first inning after Jenkins' homer and Monique Fuiava to open the sixth after she faced an early 0-2 count.

Bryant added her team-leading 22nd stolen base of '09 to tie the eighth-best mark in a season for UO, and her 59th career theft moved her to fifth all-time for UO behind Jenkins (first, 90), Kim Manning (second, 72), former teammate Suzie Barnes (third, 71) and Jill Robinson (fourth, 60).

Sophomore Ashley Kivett also stole a base for UO - her third of the season - after she was hit by a pitch in the second inning.

Overall for the game, UO and Stanford stranded five runners and seven runners, respectively.

Earlier in the weekend, UO celebrated its first Pac-10 win over No. 12 Cal Friday, 7-0, then lost to Penna and Stanford, 11-0, Saturday.

Over that four-game stretch, Jenkins led the team in batting (.385), hits (5), homers (2), doubles (1), slugging (.923) and on-base percentage. She also continued to climb the team's all-time lists in hits (third, 224), runs (fourth, 130) and walks (10th, 64), and already stood as its all-time stolen base leader (90) and sixth in batting (.335).

Junior Blair Williamson also hit .300 in the past week's four games (3-for-10) and added her second career homer vs. PSU, and had a double vs. Stanford and 2 RBI in the stretch.

On the mound the past week, Skillingstad posted her third and fourth shutouts of the season over PSU and Cal, and led the team in wins (2), strikeouts (21), opposing batting average (.147) and ERA (1.00). Overall in '09, she leads the team in wins (9), strikeouts (110), innings (109.2), ERA (2.11), opposing batting average (.214) and appearances (25), and is only four strikeouts away from the 10th-best mark in a season for UO (114).

Looking ahead, the Ducks remain at home for their second of three straight weeks at home and host Oregon State Friday, April 10 at 4 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m.

Friday's and Saturday's Civil War Sponsored By Your Northwest Dodge Dealer contests are "Buy 1, Get 1" ticket days for fans who show a Bi-mart card at the Howe Field ticket booth. Ticket-buyers for Friday's game will get a free ticket for the Washington game the following Friday (4/17), and likewise, those who purchase a ticket Saturday will get a ticket for the following Saturday game vs. UCLA (4/18). Saturday's game vs. the Beavers is also 'Pink Out the Park' day, and fans are asked to wear pink to support breast cancer awareness month.

LINESCORE

Stanford 5, OREGON 2 (Apr 05, 2009 at Eugene, Ore.)
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Stanford............ 301 100 0 - 5 6 2 (34-2, 5-1 Pac-10)
OREGON.............. 200 000 0 - 2 3 2 (12-22, 1-6 Pac-10)
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Pitchers: Stanford - Penna, Missy. OREGON - Skillingstad, Sam.
Win-Penna, Missy(24-2) Loss-Skillingstad, Sam(9-8) T-1:53 A-363
HR STAN - Neill, Rosey (8).
HR ORE - Jenkins, Sari-Jane (3).
Weather: 55, sunny, wind 2-5 mph

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