March 10, 2012
STANFORD, Calif. - The 10th-ranked Stanford softball team run-ruled Colorado State, 11-0 in five innings, and defeated Ole Miss, 8-4, Saturday, in the Louisville Slugger Classic at Smith Family Stadium. The Cardinal now stands at 23-3 overall and has won 17 straight games, while the Rams fell to 9-15 and the Rebels dropped to 12-9.
Freshman pitcher Nyree White won her second consecutive game, tossing a one-hitter against Colorado State to improve to 3-2. She registered five strikeouts without issuing a walk. Rams pitcher Kelli Eubanks took the loss, falling to 1-5.
Against Colorado State, Stanford got things going in the first. Lead-off hitter Hanna Winter recorded an infield single and advanced to second with her sixth stolen base of the year. She moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Leah White and then scored on an illegal pitch by Eubanks.
The Cardinal bats came alive in the bottom of the second, as Stanford put up five runs. Stanford scored its five runs on four hits, while the Rams committed two errors. Senior Ashley Hansen recorded an RBI, while junior Jenna Rich hit a two run single for Stanford.
Stanford tacked on another run in the third as Burns hit a single through the left side, scoring first baseman Tegan Schmidt from second.
After Nyree White retired her 12th consecutive batter in the top of the fourth, Stanford scored four more runs in the fourth to put the run-rule into effect with an 11-0 advantage. Hansen led off the inning with a triple and then scored on an RBI single by Rich. Schmidt also recorded an RBI single for the Cardinal, while Burns blasted a two-run double.
Junior pitcher Teagan Gerhart earned the start against the Rebels, picking up her 20th win of the season. She registered three strikeouts while allowing four runs on five hits. Erinn Jayjohn took the loss for Ole Miss, falling to 1-5.
Against Ole Miss, the Cardinal quickly jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first. With two outs, sophomore Corey Hanewich hit a two-run single to left center, scoring Leah White and Rich.
The Rebels answered in the top of the second as shortstop Allison Brown hit a two-run home run to centerfield, tying the game at 2-2.
Stanford broke the tie in the second, taking a 3-2 lead. Becerra led off with a single to left center and advanced to second as sophomore Caitlyn Pura laid down a sacrifice bunt. Winter brought her home with her fifth double of the season.
The Rebels continued the back-and-forth scoring, tying the game again at 3-3 in the third. First baseman Londen Ladner hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring second baseman Corrine Doornberg.
The Cardinal answered in the fourth as Winter roped a single through the right side, scoring Schmidt from second. Then in the fifth, after Hansen led off with a double, Rich blasted her third home run of the season to left center to increase the Stanford lead to 6-3. With one runner on, Becerra ripped her second career triple to right center, scoring Hanewich. However, an error by Doornberg allowed Becerra to score on that same play pushing the lead to 8-3.
A solo home run by Ladner in the top of the sixth cut the Cardinal lead to 8-4.
Stanford closes out the Louisville Slugger Classic on Sunday, March 11 with a double-header against Cal Poly, starting at 1:30 p.m. and San Jose State at 3:45 p.m. at Smith Family Stadium.