March 28, 2012
STANFORD, Calif. - The No. 13 Stanford softball team snapped a three-game skid, Wednesday, with a 9-2 win over visiting Santa Clara at Smith Family Stadium. The Cardinal improves to 26-6 overall, while the Broncos drop to 5-25.
Freshman pitcher Nyree White earned the start in the circle, her ninth of the year. She threw 3.1 innings, tallying three strikeouts and allowing two runs on five hits. Junior Teagan Gerhart entered the game in relief in the fourth and picked up the win, moving to 21-3 overall. She finished with four strikeouts and allowed just one hit and no walks. Briana Rios took the loss for the Broncos, falling to 2-7.
Stanford took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second. The Cardinal loaded the bases where senior catcher Maya Burns drew a walk to score designated player Jenna Rich. Freshman Leah White was then hit by a pitch, scoring senior Jenna Becerra, and senior Ashley Hansen drew a walk to score sophomore Corey Hanewich.
The Broncos answered in the top of the third, cutting the lead to 3-2. Shortstop Alyssa Jepsen hit an RBI double to the left centerfield wall. Catcher Breezy Bernard then hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Jepsen.
With one out in the bottom of the third, Becerra doubled to right field. She then advanced to third and came home as Santa Clara pitcher Jaymi Bautista-Geiger was called for two illegal pitches.
Santa Clara loaded the bases in the top of the fourth, forcing head coach John Rittman to make a pitching change. Gerhart entered the inning with one out and struck out the next two batters to keep the Cardinal lead at 5-3.
Stanford increased its lead to 9-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning. Hansen led off the inning with a single to left centerfield. She advanced to third as Rich singled to right field, moving to second on the throw. After Becerra drew a walk, rookie Cassandra Roulund hit a doubled to left centerfield, scoring Hansen and Rich. Becerra then scored on a wild pitch before Burns brought Roulund home with a double to center field.
The Cardinal continues Pac-12 play on the road at Arizona this weekend, March 30 - Apr. 1. The teams will play a three-game series at Hillenbrand Stadium.