HONOLULU – Stanford's offense exploded for 26 runs over two games to propel the Cardinal to back-to-back run-rule victories against Coastal Carolina and Hawai'i Saturday afternoon at the Malihini Aloha Tournament.
The Cardinal (10-8) opened the day with a 12-4 victory against Coastal Carolina (8-10) and followed with a 14-6 win against Hawai'i (11-9). Both games went six innings.
Lauren Frost had a big day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two home runs over two games – one being a grand slam and the other a two-run shot. Kylie Sorenson and Savannah Schulze both hit .500 on the day, while Whitney Burks, Kayla Bonstrom and Bessie Noll each contributed a homer apiece.
It was a two-home run day for @Frostylf. She discussed her grand slam against Coastal Carolina. #GoStanford #StanSB pic.twitter.com/lGRV2Fsv5d
— Stanford Softball (@StanfordSball) March 6, 2016
Lauren Frost discussed the win against Coastal Carolina and her grand slam.
Carolyn Lee (5-4) picked up the win against Coastal Carolina and Haley Snyder (5-4) earned the victory against Hawai'i. Kaitlyn Lagattuta got the start against Hawai'i and pitched well through the first 2.1 innings.
Stanford took an early lead against Coastal Carolina when the Cardinal capitalized on an error to load the bases in the bottom of the first inning. Victoria Molina was hit by a pitch and Kaitlin Schaberg drew a walk to give the Cardinal a 2-0 advantage.
Coastal Carolina quickly erased Stanford's lead in the following inning, producing two runs on three singles and a walk. Sorenson made a nice play at shortstop on a high chopper to get out of the inning and limit the damage.
Stanford retook the lead in the bottom half of the frame when Bessie Noll hit her second home run of the weekend – a two-run shot to deep left field – to put the Cardinal up 4-2. It was Noll's sixth home run of the season, eclipsing her entire total (5) from a year ago.
The Chanticleers got one run back in the top of the third inning when Kelsey Dominik hit a solo home run to center field.
Coastal Carolina continued to apply pressure in the fourth and fifth innings, getting two runners on in each inning. However, Lee halted any potential rally by striking out a batter for the second out and forcing a fly-out to center field for the third out in both situations.
Stanford added insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth inning when Lauren Frost hammered a pinch-hit grand slam to left field to extend the Cardinal's lead to 8-3. Frost's second home run of the year came on a 1-2 count with two outs in the inning.
The Chanticleers rallied for a run and put multiple runners on base in the top of the sixth inning but Lee did well to pitch out of trouble and limit the rally.
Stanford ended the game in the sixth inning, scoring four runs to earn a 12-4 decision. Savannah Schulze picked up her second hit of the season with an RBI-single through the right side in the bottom of the sixth inning to extend the Cardinal's lead to 9-4. Schulze scored on a passed ball later in the inning.
Whitney Burks ended the contest with a two-RBI single down the left field line.
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Stanford kept its offense going with a hot start against Hawai'i, opening the game with a pair of two-run home runs to take a 4-0 lead. Sorenson led off the top of the first with a walk and Burks followed with a home run to opposite field that left a mark on the Hawai'i scoreboard.
Jessica Plaza hit a double to right-center field and was brought home on a two-run home run by Frost. It was Frost's second at-bat of the afternoon and second home run after hitting a pinch-hit grand slam against Coastal Carolina.
Hawai'i got a run back in the bottom of the third inning but Stanford responded immediately with a run in the top of the fourth inning. Savannah Schulze delivered a two-out RBI-single to left field to give Stanford a 5-1 advantage.
The Cardinal ran into trouble in the sixth when Hawai'i batted around its lineup and produced five runs to take a 6-5 lead.
.@_whitneyalexis ensured a strong start against Hawai'i with a two-run homer off the scoreboard in the first inning. pic.twitter.com/Rypsh5CFRR
— Stanford Softball (@StanfordSball) March 6, 2016
Whitney Burks discussed picking up two wins and her home run against Hawai'i.
Bonstrom made sure the deficit did not last for long, hitting a two-run home run in the top of the fifth inning to retake the lead, 7-6.
Stanford erupted for seven runs in the top of the sixth inning to put the game out of reach. Molina, Bonstrom, Snyder and Sorenson each contributed at least one RBI in the inning.
Snyder shut the door in the seventh, getting two quick outs before a pair of Hawai'i players reached base. She made sure the game ended in the sixth, getting the next batter to fly out to left field.
Stanford concludes play Sunday at 12 p.m. (PT) when it takes on Coastal Carolina.