March 28, 2013
STANFORD, Calif. - The No. 15/17 Stanford softball team defeated No. 12/14 UCLA, 5-1, Thursday, to capture its first Pac-12 Conference win of the season at Smith Family Stadium in Stanford, Calif. The Cardinal improves to 23-8 overall and 1-3 in the Pac-12, while the Bruins drops to 24-7 on the year and 1-3 in the conference.
Senior pitcher Teagan Gerhart picked up the win in the circle, moving to 12-4 on the season. She allowed just one run on five hits with five strikeouts in her ninth complete game of the year. UCLA junior Jessica Hall took the loss, falling to 4-3. She lasted just one inning, giving up four runs on four hits.
Freshman first baseman Kayla Bonstrom led the Cardinal offensively with two hits, two RBI and a run scored. Freshman catcher Jessica Plaza added a two-run double for Stanford, while senior short stop Jenna Rich also drove in a run.
Stanford finished with five runs on seven hits, while the Bruins posted one run on five hits. Neither team committed an error in the contest.
UCLA took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. After lead-off hitter B.B. Bates doubled to right centerfield, short stop Stephany LaRosa doubled to left centerfield to bring her home.
Stanford answered with three runs in the bottom half of the inning. Left fielder Leah White drew a walk in her first at-bat and then Bonstrom singled to right centerfield. Rich's single through the left side scored White. A single by right fielder Cassandra Roulund loaded the bases for Plaza, who hit a two-run double to left field to plate Bonstrom and Rich.
Stanford added two runs in the bottom of the second inning to push the score to 5-1. After third baseman Hanna Winter and White each drew walks, Bonstrom brought them home with a double to left centerfield.
Stanford and UCLA will square-off in game two of the three-game series on Friday, March 29. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m. on the Pac-12 Networks.