STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford earned a pair of victories Saturday, defeating Connecticut and Lehigh during the second day of the Easton Crimson Classic.
The Cardinal (15-9) struck early against the Huskies (5-9), producing four runs in the first two runs, and held off a late comeback bid to earn the win. The Cardinal produced quality pitching and timely hitting against the Mountain Hawks (4-8) to earn its second victory on the day.
The Cardinal's pitching staff delivered strong performances throughout the day, limiting the Huskies to three runs and shutting out the Mountain Hawks.
Carolyn Lee (7-5) nearly went the distance against Connecticut, permitting three runs on nine hits and two walks with three strikeouts in 6.2 innings. Kiana Pancino entered the game in the seventh inning to register the final out.
Nikki Bauer (5-3) and Haley Snyder combined for the shutout against Lehigh. Bauer got the start and did not allow a run, holding the Mountain Hawks to five hits and two walks with three strikeouts. Snyder entered the game in a tough spot in the fifth inning, got the Cardinal out of a jam and was lights out the remainder of the game.
Alyssa Horeczko led the Cardinal offensively against Connecticut, going 3-for-3 with three singles and a run. Teaghan Cowles and Kylie Sorenson registered a hit and an RBI apiece.
Kristina Inouye paced Stanford at the plate against Lehigh, going 2-for-2 with a double and a walk. Arden Pettit produced an RBI-double in the sixth inning to provide a late insurance run for the Cardinal.
Plenty to ?? about today.
— Stanford Softball (@StanfordSball) March 12, 2017
Including our 2??-0?? victory against Lehigh. #GoStanford ?? pic.twitter.com/8uZRtAzogt
Highlights from Stanford's victory against Lehigh.
Stanford took an early lead and held on late to earn a 4-3 victory against Connecticut.
The Cardinal got off to a hot start with each of its first four batters reaching base safely. Sorenson brought in the Cardinal's first run with an RBI-single to right field.
Stanford loaded the bases with no outs and doubled its lead to 2-0 when an illegal pitch was called on Connecticut's pitcher.
Bessie Noll made the defensive play of the game to open the second inning. Connecticut's Devon Casazza connected with a pitch and sent it to the left-center field gap. In a full sprint, Noll made the catch on the warning track before running into the wall.
The Cardinal added another pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning. Lauren Wegner led off the inning with a walk and Horeczko followed with a bunt-single. It was Horeczko's 10th consecutive game with at least one hit.
Wegner scored on wild pitch and Horeczko came home on a fielder's choice by Cowles to put Stanford up, 4-0.
The Huskies hit a one-out solo home run in the top of the fifth inning to cut Stanford's lead to 4-1. Connecticut proceeded to load the bases but Lee forced a fielder's choice out at home and picked up her third strikeout to end the inning and get out of the jam.
The Cardinal survived a late two-out rally by the Huskies in the seventh. Connecticut pushed across two runs to cut Stanford's lead to 4-3.
Pancino entered the game with two outs and runners on second and third. She got the next batter to pop out to second base for the final out of the game to secure the victory.
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It was a pitcher's duel for Stanford's second game of the day against Lehigh.
Neither team allowed a baserunner to reach second until the fourth inning.
A two-out error by Stanford loaded the bases for Lehigh in the top of the fourth. Bauer forced a ground out to first base to end the inning and get out of the jam.
Stanford broke through in the bottom half of the inning. Lauren Bertoy led off with a walk and advanced to third when Inouye doubled off the top of the left field wall in the following at bat.
Wegner hit a grounder to shortstop in the next at-bat and Bertoy broke for home. Lehigh's shortstop threw home but Bertoy slid around the tag to give Stanford a 1-0 lead.
The Mountain Hawks threatened again in the top of the fifth when its first two batters reached base.
Snyder entered the game in relief for the Cardinal and Lehigh converted a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third with one out.
Snyder got the next two batters to line out to the left side of the infield to get out of the jam and end the inning.
Stanford doubled its lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Inouye led off with a single and Wegner followed with a single to left-center field.
Arden Pettit doubled down the left field line with one out to bring in Hannah Howell, who was pinch running for Inouye, from second and give the Cardinal a 2-0 advantage.
Lehigh drew a one-out walk and the runner advanced to second in the following at-bat on a ground out.
The next Mountain Hawks batter singled to center field. The runner on second rounded third and headed for home but Noll fielded the ball in center and threw home with plenty of time to get the runner and end the game.
Stanford concludes its weekend with a pair of games Sunday against Cal Poly (9:30 a.m. PT) and Lehigh (11:45 a.m.).