STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford freshman Victoria Molina hit a two-run walk-off home run Sunday to defeat No. 24/23 Arizona State 4-2 in nine innings.
The Cardinal (17-34, 2-19 Pac-12) made sure its final home game of the season was one to remember, rallying for two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to send the game into extra innings where Molina delivered the game-winning blast over the left field fence.
It was a complete team performance for Stanford, which produced strong pitching, quality defense and timely hits.
Kylie Sorenson (4-10) got the start in the circle and did not allow a run, limiting Arizona State (32-19, 10-10 Pac-12) to four hits and three walks in 3.0 innings. Erin Ashby came in as relief and tied her career high of 6.0 innings pitched, permitting just two runs – one earned – on eight hits and four walks.
“They pitched lights-out today,” said Stanford head coach Rachel Hanson. “We know they’re capable of that and they gave our defense a chance to make plays by keeping the ball low and working both sides of the plate. Both of them did extraordinarily well.”
Eight Cardinal batters combined for nine hits, led by Lauren Bertoy who went 2-for-3 and generated the game-tying RBI. Ashby hit her sixth home run of the season on the first pitch of the bottom of the seventh inning to get Stanford’s comeback rally started.
“This team is resilient and has an ability to step up when we need it the most,” said Hanson. “We don’t just rely on a couple hitters. People are stepping up throughout the lineup and that was showcased today.”
Molina hit her third home run of the season, and the first of her career in Pac-12 play, in the bottom of the ninth to earn the walk-off win.
“She had some tough at-bats earlier in the game but she stayed focused and it was great for her to step up and deliver in such a big way,” said Hanson.
Stanford made the defensive plays needed throughout the game to limit Arizona State’s offense and was especially good in pressure situations with runners on base, forcing the Sun Devils to strand 18 baserunners.
After a scoreless first three innings of the game, Arizona State broke through in the top of the fourth when Jennifer Soria hit a solo home run to give the Sun Devils a 1-0 lead.
Arizona State added a second run in the following inning when Nikki Girard hit a sacrifice fly to center field to bring in Haley Steele.
The Cardinal had its opportunities throughout the game with baserunners in the first, third, fourth and sixth innings, but could not break through until the seventh.
Ashby led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a home run to deep left-center field on the first pitch of the inning to cut the Sun Devils’ lead to 2-1.
“Erin’s home run was the jolt we needed in that moment to know that we could battle back,” said Hanson.
Tylyn Wells singled with one out and moved to second on a single by Savannah Schulze. It was Schulze’s first collegiate hit. Bertoy followed with a single that was hit just hard enough to get past Arizona State’s shortstop and roll into left field, giving Wells enough time to score from second and level the score at 2-2.
After a scoreless eighth inning, Jessica Plaza led off the bottom of the ninth with a single. Molina stepped to the plate with one out and hammered the first pitch she saw over the left field fence to earn the victory for the Cardinal.
“It was a great team win and effort, and a great way to send out the seniors,” said Hanson.
Stanford will look to carry the momentum into its final series of the season next weekend at No. 18/18 California beginning Thursday at 3 p.m. (PT).