CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – A balanced offensive performance and solid pitching by Haley Snyder propelled Stanford to a 9-3 victory against San Jose State on Friday evening at the Mary Nutter Classic.
Seven Cardinal (6-5) players registered at least one hit to help move the squad to 2-0 on the weekend. Bessie Noll continued her hot start to the year and led Stanford offensively, going 1-for-1 with three RBIs, a double, two runs and two walks.
Victoria Molina provided the power and set the tone for the Cardinal with her second home run of the season - a two run shot to right field. With Stanford trailing 2-1 in the fourth inning, Molina's home run gave Stanford its first lead of the game and the Cardinal never relinquished the advantage for the remainder of the game.
Victoria Molina's two-run homer gave Stanford its first lead of the game and the Cardinal never looked back. pic.twitter.com/ONKz9hFegG
— Stanford Softball (@StanfordSball) February 27, 2016
Victoria Molina discussed the win and her home run.
Kylie Sorenson and Kayla Bonstrom produced two RBIs apiece and combined for three runs. Lauren Frost got the first hit of her collegiate career in the sixth inning when she led off the frame with a double to right-center field.
Snyder (4-2) was strong in the circle, throwing her second complete game of the season and limiting the Spartans to three runs on seven hits and five walks. She registered seven strikeouts - just one shy of her season high of eight.
.@HaleySnyder21 pitched well in crucial moments and let her defense work to pick up her fourth win of the season. pic.twitter.com/2QzONLs2pn
— Stanford Softball (@StanfordSball) February 27, 2016
Haley Snyder highlighted the complete team effort in tonight's victory.
Stanford found itself in an early hole when San Jose State struck for two runs in the top of the first inning. The Cardinal got one back in the bottom half of the inning when Sorenson led off with a walk and worked her way around the bases until she was brought home on a sacrifice fly by Bessie Noll.
Snyder settled in nicely in the circle and kept the Spartans off the scoreboard for the next four innings.
Stanford broke through in the fourth inning when Molina smashed a two-run home run to opposite field to give Stanford a 3-2 lead. The Cardinal loaded the bases following the home run with two outs. Sorenson delivered a two-RBI single to score Bonstrom and Jessica Plaza, and extend Stanford's lead to 5-2.
San Jose State got a run back in the top of the sixth inning to cut Stanford's lead to 5-3 and were threatening for more when they loaded the bases with two outs. However, Snyder got the next batter to strike out looking to end the inning.
The Cardinal provided run support in the bottom of the sixth with its second four-run inning of the day. Frost initiated the rally with a leadoff double. Noll and Bonstrom each contributed two-RBI doubles to extend Stanford's lead to 9-3.
The Spartans loaded the bases again in the top of the seventh inning with two outs but Snyder forced a pop fly to center field to end the game.
Stanford continues play Saturday with a pair of games, beginning with Boise State at 9:30 a.m. (PT) and concluding with NC State at Noon.