Feb. 10, 2012
Cal State Northridge Box Score | Texas A&M Box Score
TEMPE, Ariz. - The No. 9/10 Stanford softball team defeated Cal State Northridge, 13-1 in five innings, but fell to No. 15/17 Texas A&M, 10-9, in its second game of the day at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz. The Cardinal is now 1-1 overall to open the 2012 campaign.
Stanford utilized 20 of its 21 players in the first game as all eight freshmen saw time in the lineup. Rookies Leah White and Hanna Winter started the game at left field and third base, respectively.
The Cardinal came out swinging against the Matadors, scoring five runs in the top of the first inning. Junior second baseman Jenna Rich started things off with a single to left field with the bases loaded to score White. Winter then drew a walk with the bases still loaded to score senior Ashley Hansen. After a two-run double by sophomore Corey Hanewich, Winter crossed the plate on a wild pitch to complete the scoring.
Junior pitcher Teagan Gerhart, who earned the win against Cal State Northridge, retired the first six Matadors in order for the Cardinal. Stanford added to its lead with three runs in the third. Hanewich registered her second double of the game, scoring Rich from third. A throwing error by Matador right fielder Jessica Fridwall allowed Winter to score from third and Hanewich to advance to third. Senior Jenna Becerra added an RBI single up the middle to give Stanford the 8-0 advantage.
In the top of the fourth, Stanford tacked on three more runs. White reached on an error by Fridwall to lead off the inning. She was brought home by a two-run shot from Hansen, the reigning collegiate player of the year. After Rich recorded a double down the left line, she scored on an error by CSUN first baseman Mikayla Thielges which allowed rookie Tylyn Wells to reach first. However, a groundout by freshman Erin Ashby ended the inning with the Cardinal on top 11-0.
Freshman pitcher Nyree White took over for Gerhart in the fourth inning. She gave up a home run to Korinne Randazzo, but struck out two batters in her first collegiate appearance. Stanford added two more runs in the top of the fifth inning before the run rule came into effect.
In game two, Stanford continued to hit well, but was unable to stave off the Texas A&M Aggies. Gerhart took the loss after giving up 10 runs on eight hits and issuing five walks. She also tallied seven strikeouts in 6.1 innings of work.
The Cardinal stuck first on the scoreboard, scoring a run in the bottom of the first inning. Senior Sarah Hassman, who was hit by a pitch, scored from third on an error by Aggie short stop Brittany Walker. However, Texas A&M answered with four runs in the second inning, including a three-run home run by second baseman Natalie Villarreal.
Stanford came back to tie the score at 4-4 with three runs in the bottom of the third inning. Hassman reached on another error by Walker. Hansen then drew a walk and Rich brought everyone home with a three-run bomb to left centerfield.
The Aggies broke the tie in the top of the fourth on a two-run homer by pitcher Mel Dumezich. Stanford answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning to regain the lead momentarily. Becerra led off the inning with a solo shot to left field. White then singled and Hansen drew her third walk of the game to put two on for the Cardinal. Sophomore designated player Danielle Miller ripped a double to left center field to score White. Hansen added a run by advancing on a wild pitch. Rich then recoded a triple to center field, which scored Wells, who was pinch running for Miller.
Leading 8-6, A&M scored on a solo home run by catcher Meagan May to cut the lead to one in the top of the fifth. Stanford was held scoreless in the bottom of the fifth.
The Aggies added two more runs in the sixth on Villarreal's second homer of the game, a two-run shot to right center field. Stanford fought back in the bottom of the inning as Hansen scored on a triple by Miller, but that was all the Cardinal was able to produce for the remainder of the game. A&M added another run on a homer by first baseman Nicole Morgan in the seventh to give the Aggies the win.
Stanford will face Portland State at 8:30 a.m. MT and Texas Tech at 11 a.m. MT on Saturday, Feb. 11. Both games will be played at the Tempe Sports Complex.