TAMPA, Fla. – No. 15/14 Stanford split its first two games at the Under Armour Invitational Friday, defeating Central Arkansas 7-3 and falling to South Florida 3-2.
The Cardinal (15-4) needed comeback efforts in both games – accomplishing the feat against Central Arkansas (6-12) and falling just short against USF (9-5).
Madi Schreyer (12-3) got the start in the circle in both games for the Cardinal, finishing the day 1-1 with nine strikeouts. Schreyer allowed seven hits, walked five and did not allow an earned run in 12.1 innings of work.
Kayla Bonstrom and Leah White paced the Cardinal offensively, combining for seven of Stanford’s 14 hits on the day. Bonstrom went 4-for-7 with two RBI and scored a run, while White batted 3-for-6 and scored a run.
Central Arkansas opened the scoring in the first game, capitalizing in the third inning on a wild pitch followed by an error that brought a runner home from third.
After a scoreless fourth and fifth inning, Stanford erupted for seven runs in the final two innings to earn the win. Erin Ashby got the Cardinal on the board in the sixth when she delivered a two-out three-run home run to left field to put Stanford up 3-1. It was Ashby’s second home run on the year.
Central Arkansas responded with a run in the bottom of the sixth to cut Stanford’s lead to 3-2. However, the Cardinal kept pouring on the offense in the seventh with the first five batters reaching base.
With the bases loaded, Bessie Noll drew a walk to bring Hanna Winter home from third. A single by Bonstrom brought White in and Sorenson scored on a throwing error by the Central Arkansas right fielder. Cassandra Roulund completed the scoring sequence with an RBI-sacrifice fly to bring in Noll and give the Cardinal a 7-2 advantage.
Sorenson started the seventh inning in the circle and recorded two outs and allowed a run before Schreyer reentered the game to get the final out.
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Stanford’s matchup against USF was highlighted by strong pitching and sound defensive, with both teams being held scoreless through the first four innings. Winter made multiple standout plays at third base and finished the game with six assists.
Sorenson broke through in the top of the fifth inning with an RBI-double to left field that brought Tylyn Wells home from second.
After the first two USF batters reached base in the bottom half of the inning, Stanford retired the next two hitters. It looked as though Stanford would get out of the inning when the next USF batter hit a grounder back to the pitcher. Schreyer fielded the ball cleanly but overthrew the first baseman, allowing the USF runner on second to score.
The next USF batter delivered a two-RBI single up the middle to give the Bulls a 3-1 lead.
The Cardinal continued to battle in the seventh with Winter and White opening the inning with back-to-back singles. After a sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third, Winter was brought home on a sacrifice fly by Bonstrom. Stanford was unable to bring home the tying run and Noll popped out to the catcher to end the game.
Stanford will play two games again Saturday, beginning with Georgia State at 11:30 a.m. (PT), followed by a 1:15 p.m. matchup against Central Connecticut State.