April 10, 2013
STANFORD, Calif. - Behind senior shotstop Jenna Rich, the No. 15/16 Stanford softball team downed San Jose State, 7-1, Wednesday, at Smith Family Stadium in Stanford, Calif. The Cardinal moves to 28-12 overall, while the Spartans fell to 29-13.
Rich, who celebrated her birthday on Wednesday, was 3-for-4 with two home runs, a single and two RBI. It marked the third straight year she has hit a homer on her birthday and the second consecutive two-home run output on April 10. The El Segundo, Calif., native now has 39 career home runs, tying former Cardinal catcher Rosey Neill ('10) for third all-time. She is just one away from tying Michelle Smith ('08) for second place.
Sophomore Cassandra Roulund was also 3-for-4 on the evening with a two-run double and a pair of singles. Sophomore Erin Ashby added a triple, while junior pinch hitter Danielle Miller hit her third sacrifice fly of the season.
In the circle, senior pitcher Teagan Gerhart notched her 16th win of the season. She threw 5.0 scoreless innings for the Cardinal. Freshman Kelsey Stevens tallied two strikeouts in 2.0 innings of relief. San Jose State's Allison Lang took the loss, falling to 5-2 on the year.
The Cardinal took the early lead, plating two runs in the bottom of the first on Roulund's two-run double. Scoring for the Cardinal were senior Sarah Hassman and Rich.
In the second, sophomore left fielder Leah White was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, bringing home freshman Kaitlin Schaberg to make it 3-0 Stanford.
Rich's first home run of the game came in the bottom of the third inning. Then, with the bases loaded, Miller pinch hit for sophomore Hanna Winter and scored Roulund on a sacrifice fly to center field.
The Cardinal increased its lead to 6-0 as Rich blasted her second solo shot of the day to left field in the bottom of the fourth.
Stanford scored its final run of the game in the bottom of the fifth as pinch runner Alyssa Lombardo scored on a wild pitch by SJSU's Jordan Sauceda.
The Spartans avoided the shutout in the top of the sixth inning as designated player Markesha Collins hit a solo home run of her own to center field.
Up next, the Cardinal will play host to Saint Mary's on Wednesday, April 17 at 6 p.m. Stanford will then continue Pac-12 play on the road at Washington, April19-21.