Mistakes cost softball extra innings loss to Stanford

An uncharacteristic night of mistakes and blown opportunities saw the No. 2 Sun Devil Softball team fall in a 2-1 10 inning battle to the eighth-ranked Stanford Cardinal Thursday night in Tempe at Farrington Stadium. The loss puts ASU at 54-5 overall and 16-3 in conference play as Stanford jumps to 46-10 and 11-8.

The game remained locked in a tough pitchers battle as Stanford's ace Missy Penna locked horns with Katie Burkhart for a marquee match-up in the circle. While both pitchers were flawless through three full, the Cardinal drew first blood in the fourth as their number one slugger Rosey Neill pulled the count full before smashing her Pac-10 leading 18th home run of the season to give the Cardinal the 1-0 lead.

The Sun Devils didn't let the lead stand long though as Missy Penna hit two Sun Devil batters to put runners on first and second with two outs before Jackie Vasquez came through with a single to right center to plate one and tie it up at one apiece headed into the later innings.

The Sun Devils looked to shut the door on the Cardinal in the ninth inning with bases loaded and one out, but a fielder's choice with the out at home and a running blunder cost them the inning and scoring threat. The Cardinal took the opportunity yard in the next inning as the designated player Melisa Koutz blasted her first career home run in the top of the tenth giving Stanford the 2-1 edge. The Sun Devils were unable to fight as Missy Penna closed out her Pac-10 leading 34th win while collecting 17 strikeouts through the night.

The Sun Devils will continue their final regular season weekend tomorrow as they host the 23rd-ranked Cal Golden Bears in Tempe at Farrington Stadium with first pitch set for 7 p.m.