May 9, 2013
STANFORD, Calif. - The No. 13 Stanford softball team dropped the opening game of the three-game series against Arizona, 5-3, Thursday, at Smith Family Stadium. The loss drops the Cardinal to 36-18 overall and 12-10 in Pac-12 play. The Wildcats move to 31-23 overall and 8-14 in the conference.
Senior pitcher Teagan Gerhart took the loss, allowing five runs on seven hits, which drops her to 19-10 on the season. Arizona pitcher Estela Pinon earned the win, increasing her record to 11-8.
Stanford jumped to a 2-0 lead over the Wildcats in the bottom of the third inning. With bases loaded, freshman first baseman Kayla Bonstrom hit an infield grounder, and the Cardinal capitalized on an error by Arizona shortstop Brigette Del Ponte, scoring senior second baseman Tegan Schmidt. Senior shortstop Jenna Rich then followed up with a sacrifice fly to score senior center fielder Sarah Hassman.
Arizona answered in the top of the fourth. Chelsea Suitos led off with a slap single. After a dropped foul ball by freshman catcher Jessica Plaza, Arizona's Kelsey Rodriguez singled to left field, scoring Suitos.
Stanford scored again in the bottom of the fifth inning on a double by sophomore designated player Erin Ashby, bringing home Cassandra Roulund.
In the top of the sixth inning, the Wildcats scored three more on a home run by Lauren Young. Hallie Wilson then hit a solo shot in the top of the seventh, putting Arizona up 5-3.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Stanford loaded the bases after another Del Ponte error and two hit batters, but Pinon was able to strike out Hanna Winter for the final out of the game. The Cardinal left a total of 13 runners on base.
Stanford will play the second game of the series against Arizona on Friday, May 10, at 7 p.m.