Feb. 12, 2012
TEMPE, Ariz. - Behind pitchers Teagan Gerhart and Nyree White, the No. 9 Stanford softball team downed UC Santa Barbara, 11-0 in five innings, on the final day of the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz. The Cardinal starts the season 4-1 overall, while the Gauchos drop to 1-5.
Gerhart started the game in the circle, throwing 2.2 scoreless, hitless innings with four strikeouts. White entered the game with two outs in the bottom of the third and finished off the perfect game.
Stanford opened the contest with a three-run first inning. The Cardinal took advantage of two miscues by the Gauchos. Senior Sarah Hassman reached on an error by pitcher Shelby Wisdom. She was brought home on a double to left centerfield by freshman Hanna Winter. Winter advanced all the way to third as UCSB center fielder Jessica Soria. Wisdom loaded the bases after hitting senior Ashley Hansen in the back and then walking junior Jenna Rich. Winter was able to score on a groundout by sophomore Danielle Miller and Hansen came home on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Caitlyn Pura.
The Cardinal added two more runs in the top of the second as Hansen hit her second home run of the season, a two-run shot that scored Hassman as well.
Stanford tacked on two more runs in the third inning to take a 7-0 lead over UCSB. With one out, senior catcher Maya Burns singled to left field and then senior first baseman Jenna Becerra doubled to left to put two runners in scoring position. After Hassman drew a walk to load the bases, Winter ripped a single through the right side to score Burns and Becerra.
The Cardinal reached the eight-run mark in the top of the fifth to put the run-rule into effect. Freshman Tylyn Wells reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on an infield single by Winter. After the Gauchos intentionally walked Hansen, Rich hit an RBI single to score Wells. Stanford added three more runs, including a two-run single by sophomore pinch hitter Tegan Schmidt.
Up next, Stanford will play a mid-week contest at UC Davis on Wednesday, Feb. 15. The Cardinal will then return to The Farm to host the Stanford Nike Invitational, Feb. 17-19. Stanford will face Nevada, Bradley and Pacific.