DAVIS, Calif. – Quality pitching, timely hitting and multiple impressive defensive plays propelled Stanford to a 6-3 victory at UC Davis on Wednesday.
The Cardinal (5-2) took an early lead but needed a late comeback to defeat the Aggies (2-1). After taking an early 2-0 lead, Stanford faced a 3-2 deficit after four innings. The Cardinal rallied for four runs in the top of the sixth inning to secure the victory.
It is Stanford's second win this season when trailing after five innings.
Lauren Bertoy led Stanford offensively, going 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs. It was Bertoy's first homer of the season and second of her career.
Kylie Sorenson (2-for-4) and Kristina Inouye (1-for-3) also had quality days offensively. Inouye recorded her first career double and earned an RBI on the play.
Carolyn Lee (3-1) earned the victory, entering the game in the sixth inning as relief. She held UC Davis to no runs on three hits and two walks in 2.0 innings.
Nikki Bauer did not get the decision but pitched well in her fourth career start. She limited the Aggies to three runs – one earned – on five hits and two walks with three strikeouts in 5.0 innings.
Montana Dixon was excellent behind the plate, throwing out runners attempting to steal in the first and second innings.
Lauren Bertoy was CLUTCH today.
— Stanford Softball (@StanfordSball) February 16, 2017
2-for-3, HR, 2 R, 2 RBIs
Both RBIs either gave Stanford a lead or erased a deficit. #GoStanford ?? pic.twitter.com/WTJW27OBta
Lauren Bertoy went 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs.
Stanford ran into a bit of trouble in the bottom of the first inning when UC Davis loaded the bases with one out. Bauer got out of the inning unscathed, striking out the next two batters to end the inning.
Bertoy gave the Cardinal a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning with a towering leadoff home run to right field – her first since her sophomore season in 2015.
Stanford doubled its lead in the top of the third. Sorenson singled up the middle and was brought home by Inouye who hammered an RBI-double over the left fielder's head.
The Aggies leveled the score at 2-2 in the bottom half of the inning. Back-to-back singles and a fielder's choice by UC Davis cut Stanford's lead to 2-1. A two-out error allowed another run to cross home and level the score.
A second Stanford error proved costly in the bottom of the fourth inning as UC Davis pushed across its second unearned run of the game to take a 3-2 lead.
Inouye made the defensive play of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Aggies' hit a hard grounder to the right side of the infield to lead off the inning. Inouye dove to her left to make the stop and threw to first from her knees to get the out.
Stanford retook the lead in the top of the sixth inning. After a leadoff walk by Inouye, a catcher's interference call was made during Bessie Noll's at-bat that changed the complexion of the inning.
Noll popped up to second base and Hannah Howell, who was pinch running for Inouye, was doubled-up at first base. However, Noll's bat hit the catcher's glove before making contact with the ball and the home plate umpire called catcher interference. Noll was safe at first and Howell advanced to second.
The Cardinal capitalized on the opportunity. Whitney Burks followed with a single to load the bases. Bertoy produced her second hit of the game, an RBI-single up the middle to level the score at, 3-3. Dixon and Lauren Wegner drew back-to-back walks to give Stanford a 5-3 advantage.
A fielder's choice by Teaghan Cowles brought in the fourth run of the inning to extend the Cardinal's lead to, 6-3.
Lee took over in the circle in the bottom of the sixth inning. She registered two outs after facing three batters but UC Davis rallied to load the bases. Lee got the next batter to hit a grounder back to the circle and she fired to first to get the third out and preserve Stanford's 6-3 lead.
Lee got two quick outs after facing the first three batters in the seventh but the Aggies got runners on first and second with two outs, bringing the tying run to the plate. Lee got the next batter to hit a soft line drive to edge of the infield between first and second base where Inouye made a diving catch to end the inning and secure the victory.
Stanford will look to continue its momentum this weekend when it plays host to Omaha, UC Santa Barbara and Pacific as part of the Nike Invitational.