STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford erased an early seven-run deficit but the comeback bid fell just short Wednesday as the Cardinal dropped a 10-9 decision against Saint Mary’s.
The Cardinal (16-26, 1-11 Pac-12) found itself in an 8-1 hole after the first inning and a half. The Gales (17-27, 1-5 WCC) accumulated two home runs, two doubles and four walks during their first two innings at the plate.
Despite the early deficit, Stanford remained focused and chipped away at Saint Mary’s advantage until it closed the gap.
“They battled back with some huge hits,” said Stanford head coach Rachel Hanson. “They have a never say die mentality. Even when we did go down it was on shots that went right to people. I’m proud of the team and the way they keep battling.”
Erin Ashby (0-1) – typically Stanford’s starting second baseman – took the reins at pitcher for the Cardinal in the second inning and helped right the ship. She held the Gales scoreless in the third through sixth innings, and finished the game permitting three runs on five hits and two walks in 6.0 innings.
Ashby helped her own cause in the sixth inning when she hit her third home run on the year. She finished the night going 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run.
“We were planning on using her for two innings at pitcher but she kept handling it and she felt strong and wanted to keep going so we left her in there,” said Hanson. “She did a great job today offensively and defensively.”
It was a strong game offensively for the Cardinal, outhitting the Gaels 12-10 and launching three home runs. However, Stanford had difficulty finding the timely hit and left nine runners on base.
Hanna Winter paced the Cardinal with a 5-for-5 performance, while Kayla Bonstrom, Lauren Bertoy and Ashby each registered two hits apiece. Bessie Noll hit her third home run in as many games – this time a three-run shot to left-center field. Bertoy also homered to register the first of her career.
Saint Mary’s opened the game by batting around its lineup and posting five runs. The Cardinal responded with a run in the bottom of the first to cut the lead to 5-1.
The Gaels continued to swing a hot bat in the second inning, adding three runs to stretch its lead to 8-1. Stanford again chipped at the lead away in the bottom half of the inning when Bertoy hit a solo home run to left-center field.
Stanford did most of its damage in the bottom of the third inning, batting through the lineup and scoring five runs on four hits. Noll’s three-run homer sparked the rally. Winter contributed a RBI-single and Bonstrom added a RBI-walk to cut Saint Mary’s lead to 8-7.
Ashby completed the Cardinal’s effort to erase the seven-run deficit with a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Stanford was ultimately undone by a two-out two-run home run by the Gaels’ Giana Bilotta to retake the lead and carry a 10-8 advantage into the final frame.
Bertoy led off the bottom of the seventh with a walk and was pinch-run for by Alyssa Lombardo. Lombardo was eventually brought home on a RBI-single by Winter.
With one out and a runner of first, Stanford was unable to find the hits needed to complete the comeback and extend the game.
The Cardinal resumes Pac-12 play this weekend when it plays host to No. 1/2 Oregon, beginning Saturday at 3:30 p.m. (PT).