May 3, 2013
BERKELEY, Calif. - Senior shortstop Jenna Rich became the school's career RBI leader as the No. 16/17 Stanford softball team downed No. 12/13 California 13-5, Friday, at Levine-Fricke Field. The Cardinal improves to 33-17 and 10-9 in the Pac-12, while the Golden Bears fall to 35-13 and 9-10 in the conference.
Rich collected three RBI on her 43rd career home run to break Sarah Beeson's school record of 201, set in 2002. Rich now has 204 in her career.
Senior pitcher Teagan Gerhart improved to 19-9 in the circle. She allowed five runs, only three earned, and recorded three strikeouts in 6.0 innings. Sophomore Nyree White entered the game in relief to start the bottom of the seventh. Cal's Nisa Ontiveros took the loss, dropping to 4-4.
A solo home run by Cal second baseman Britt Vonk put the Bears on top early 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning.
The Cardinal captured the lead for good in the top of the third inning, scoring five runs on four hits. Rich started things off with her three-run shot to right field. Sophomore Cassandra Roulund added a solo home run of her own, while second baseman Tegan Schmidt hit an RBI double.
The Cardinal added two more runs in the top of the fourth inning, capitalizing on a pair of Cal errors. Senior Sarah Hassman led off with an infield single and then advanced to second on a throwing error by Cal shortstop Victoria Jones. A single up the middle by freshman Kayla Bonstrom scored Hassman. Roulund then reached on another error by Jones, allowing Bonstrom to score from second.
The Bears got two back in the bottom of the fourth as Jone hit a home run to centerfield, also scoring Danielle Henderson who drew a walk.
Sophomore third baseman Hanna Winter hit an RBI double in the top of the fifth to score Schmidt and increase the Stanford lead to 8-3.
Cal cut the lead to 8-5 in the bottom of the sixth inning. An error by Winter allowed Henderson to score the fourth runs for the Bears. Centerfielder Jasmin Mejia grounded out second base, plating Breana Kostreba.
The Cardinal offense wasn't done producing; however, as Stanford scored five runs on five hits to put the game out of reach for the Bears.
Stanford and Cal continue the three-game series on Saturday, May 4. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. from Levine-Fricke Field.