May 11, 2012
SALT LAKE CITY - Senior Ashley Hansen set a school record with her 18th career triple as the No. 15 Stanford softball team defeat Utah, 9-1 in six innings, at Utah, Friday, at Ute Field in Salt Lake City. The Cardinal improves to 37-17 overall and 10-13 in the Pac-12, while the Utes drop to 28-27 overall and to 2-21 in the conference.
Freshman pitcher Nyree White picked up the win in the circle, moving tot 7-6 overall. She finished with one strikeout without allowing a walk or an earned run. Utah freshman Mariah Ramirez took the loss, falling to 3-7.
Hansen not only tallied her Pac-12 leading eighth triple of the year, but she was perfect at the plate, tying her career high with four hits in the game.
Utah took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. With two outs, a fielding error by Stanford second baseman Jenna Rich allowed Utah shortstop Kelsi Hoopiiaina to score from second.
Stanford answered in the top of the second as first baseman Jenna Becerra hit a solo home run over the centerfield fence. It marks the sixth homer of the year and 35th RBI for the senior.
Stanford captured a 4-1 advantage over Utah in the top of the third. The Cardinal loaded the bases with no outs as Hanna Winter, Leah White and Hansen all tallied singles. Junior Jenna Rich reached on a fielder's choice as Winter was out at the plate. However, a throwing error to first base by Utah catcher Shay Wallace allowed Leah White and Hansen to score. Rich then scored on an RBI single through the right side by freshman centerfielder Cassandra Roulund.
The Cardinal continued to put runs on the board in the top of the fifth, increasing its lead to 6-1. Hansen led off the inning with a triple and Rich brought her home with a single to centerfield. She now has 60 RBI on the year and is just the second Cardinal player to record 60 or more RBI in a single season. Senior catcher Maya Burns then singled up the middle to score Rich.
Stanford tacked on three more runs in the top of the sixth to put the run-rule into effect as the Utes could not answer in the bottom half of the inning. Designated player Danielle Miller and freshman Tylyn Wells recorded back-to-back singles to put two on for the Cardinal. Freshman Alyssa Lombardo came in to run for Miller as Leah White ripped a three-run shot to right centerfield. It marked the fifth home run of the year for the rookie.
Stanford and Utah will close out the regular season on Saturday, May 12. First pitch is slated for Noon MT at Ute Field in Salt Lake City.