TEMPE, Ariz. – Whitney Burks hit a grand slam to help power Stanford to a 10-1 season-opening victory against UTEP on Thursday afternoon at Farrington Stadium.
Locked in a 1-1 tie in the fifth inning, Burks hammered a pitch to dead center field to give the Cardinal (1-0) a 5-1 advantage.
Stanford dominated the remainder of the game, outscoring the Miners (0-1) 5-0 and not permitting a hit.
"The team competed really well and was consistent all day," said Stanford head coach Rachel Hanson. "We were a little jumpy early, maybe a little too excited for the first game day, and were a bit too early swinging the bat. We kept attacking and came through with hits later in the game."
Carolyn Lee (1-0) was excellent in the circle, permitting just one run on four hits. She logged five strikeouts in the complete game victory. Lee did not allow a hit after the third inning.
"It was exactly what we'd expect of our ace," said Hanson. "She battled all day. We had a good game plan going in and she executed it well to keep them off balance and stay ahead in the count."
Kylie Sorenson (2-for-5), Teaghan Cowles (2-for-4) and Lauren Bertoy (2-for-3) registered multi-hit games.
Cowles and Kristina Inouye recorded their first collegiate hits. Cowles' was an RBI-triple and Inouye's was an RBI-single.
Bessie Noll made the defensive play of the game in the bottom of the second inning with a diving catch in the left-center field gap. Her catch prevented a pair of UTEP runners from scoring to keep the score 0-0.
"Bessie is that player that can take it to the next level and sets the tone for the whole team," said Hanson. "When your senior is the one out there, diving to make plays and highlight-reel catches – everyone else knows there are no excuses and they're going to try to make every play they can make."
.@_whitneyalexis broke the game open with a grand slam in the fifth inning.
— Stanford Softball (@StanfordSball) February 9, 2017
She discussed the HR and the season-opening win. #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/sIXsnQGWke
Whitney Burks discussed her home run and the season-opening victory after the game.
Stanford broke through in the third inning on back-to-back hits by Sorenson and Cowles. Sorenson delivered the Cardinal's first hit of the season with a line drive single to left field.
Cowles followed with her first collegiate hit – a triple down the left field line that brought in Sorenson from first and game the Cardinal a 1-0 lead.
Stanford erupted for six runs in the top of the fifth inning to take a commanding 7-1 lead. Burks broke the 1-1 deadlock with a towering grand slam to center field. It is the first grand slam of Burks' career.
"We had been knocking at the door a bit and I don't think anyone was concerned but it's always nice when you get that first big hit," said Hanson. "Everyone took a deep breath and went to work."
.@_whitneyalexis » ?????? pic.twitter.com/pczz2eAVRg
— Stanford Softball (@StanfordSball) February 9, 2017
Whitney Burks hit the first grand slam of her career.
The Cardinal continued to apply pressure and loaded the bases for a second time in the inning with no outs. Lauren Frost hit into a double play but made hard enough contact up the middle to bring in the runner from third.
Inouye powered an RBI-single past the second baseman in the following at-bat to extend the lead to 7-1.
Cowles reached on an error in the top of the sixth inning and made UTEP pay. She stole second during the next at-bat to get in scoring position. She then advanced to third on a wild pitch and came home when the catcher's throw to third went wide of the base and rolled into the outfield.
Stanford added to its 8-1 lead in the top of the seventh inning with a pair of sacrifice flies. Haley Snyder pinch hit and drove a shot to the center field wall that brought in Arden Pettit from third.
Inouye delivered a sacrifice fly of her own in the following at-bat to bring in Bertoy and give the Cardinal a 10-1 lead.
Stanford will look to continue its momentum Friday when it takes on Creighton (2 p.m. PT) and Western Michigan (5 p.m.).