TEMPE, Ariz. – Haley Snyder threw a career-best eight strikeouts and Bessie Noll hit two home runs to help lead Stanford to a convincing 11-0 season-opening victory in five innings against Portland State on Friday night.
The Cardinal (1-0) came out swinging, batting through its lineup and producing five runs in the top of the first inning. Eight Stanford players registered at least one hit.
"You're always happy with a win but more importantly I'm pleased with how they played," said Stanford head coach Rachel Hanson. "They competed every single pitch. Even when we went up early, they kept playing like it was a 0-0 ballgame."
Snyder (1-0) was particularly impressive on both sides of the plate, holding the Vikings (0-1) to three hits and no walks in 5.0 innings of work. She also registered the first hit of her collegiate career in the top of the first inning. With the bases loaded, Snyder sent a hard hit shot to opposite field down the right field line for a three-RBI triple.
"I'm really proud of how Haley has grown as a pitcher," said Hanson. "She attacked the zone and if she made a mistake, she corrected it immediately. She did a tremendous job at the plate to go to opposite field and stretch it into a triple."
.@HaleySnyder21 threw a career-high eight strikeouts. Her thoughts after the game. #GoStanford #StanSB pic.twitter.com/0T4QVbRNPb
— Stanford Softball (@StanfordSball) February 13, 2016
Haley Snyder discussed her performance after the game.
Noll has shown flashes of big offensive power during the past two seasons and put it on full display in tonight's season-opener. She hit the first of her two home runs in the top of the third inning - a two-run laser to left field. Noll hit a towering solo home run to center field in her final at-bat in the top of the fifth inning to cap Stanford's scoring on the night.
"Her athleticism was on full display tonight in the two giant shots and her play defensively," said Hanson. "She really took charge, which is what we need her to do in the outfield."
Bessie Noll hit two monster home runs in consecutive at-bats. Already focusing on the next game. #GoStanford #StanSB pic.twitter.com/2lZpyEJQ9b
— Stanford Softball (@StanfordSball) February 13, 2016
Bessie Noll's take on the team's win and her two home runs.
Kayla Bonstrom, a 2015 NFCA All-American, picked up right where she left off, going 2-for-3 with a home run and a team-high three runs. Her home run was a deep shot to right field that came in the at-bat immediately following Noll's in the third inning.
It is the 26th home run of Bonstrom's career and she is now two home runs shy of seventh on Stanford's all-time list.
"Kayla works so hard all offseason to never have an off day," said Hanson. "She doesn't start the season off slow – she came ready to play and did a great job at the plate with disciplined approaches. She really helped set the tone at the plate today."
Kylie Sorenson had a strong showing at the plate with a 2-for-3 performance, while Jessica Plaza, Whitney Burks and Lauren Bertoy contributed an RBI apiece.
Burks, Molly Fowkes and Lauren Frost each made their collegiate debuts. Fowkes picked up her first collegiate hit with a single in the first inning.
"I loved that we had a consistent approach from freshmen to seniors from the start of the game to the end of the game," said Hanson.
Stanford will look to continue its momentum Saturday when it takes on New Mexico at 2:30 p.m. (PT) and Cal Poly at 5 p.m.