Feb. 7, 2013
TEMPE, Ariz. - The No. 20/21 Stanford softball team defeated Bradley, 8-2, Thursday in the season opener for both teams at the Tempe Sports Complex in Tempe, Ariz. The Cardinal is 1-0 overall and the Braves drop to 0-1.
Senior Sarah Hassman and sophomore Erin Ashby each hit home runs to lead the Cardinal. Hassman's was a three-run shot, while Ashby's was the first of her career. Senior Tegan Schmidt finished 2-2 with an RBI and two runs scored, while sophomore Leah White tallied two hits, an RBI and a run scored.
Senior pitcher Teagan Gerhart earned the start and threw 3.2 innings with seven strikeouts. Freshman Kelsey Stevens picked up the win in 2.1 innings of action. She allowed just two hits and one run with five strikeouts in her first collegiate appearance. Sophomore Nyree White also threw an inning for the Cardinal. Bradley's Mackenzie Camp took the loss, allowing three runs on three hits.
After no score in the first inning, Ashby blasted a ball over the left centerfield fence. Then, with runners on the corner, senior Tegan Schmit roped a ball to right field to score Leah White. Hassman capped off the inning with a three-run homer to center field to make it 5-0 in favor of the Cardinal.
Stanford tacked on another run in the top of the third for a 6-0 advantage. Senior Jenna Rich led off the inning, reaching on an error by Bradley centerfielder Mariah Cole, and sprinted her way to third base. White then singled through the right side to bring home Rich.
The Cardinal scored two more runs in the fourth inning to push the lead to 8-0. Freshman Kaitlin Schaberg led off the inning with a single through the left side. A double to centerfield by Rich brought Schaberg home. Ashby then singled to right center to score Rich.
The Braves avoided the run-rule by plating a run in the bottom of the fifth inning. They added another run in the bottom of the seventh, both scored by short stop Alex Chandler.
Stanford continues play at the Kajikawa Classic on Friday, Feb. 8 against second-ranked Oklahoma at 8 a.m. PT. The Cardinal will also face Portland State at 1:30 p.m. PT on Friday in Tempe, Ariz.