BATON ROUGE – Senior Carolyn Lee struck out a career-high 10 batters over six strong innings, and freshman Emily Schultz launched her first career home run, as Stanford (11-2) defeated CSUN (4-9), 3-2, on Sunday to close play at the LSU Invitational.
With the win, Stanford went a perfect 5-0 at the tournament, posting a pair of wins over CSUN, and beating No. 7 LSU, Michigan and Memphis. The 11-2 start to the season is the best for the Card since the 2014 squad began the year 13-0.
Lee, who improved to 2-1 with the win, was dominant from the start, punching out seven hitters over the first four innings. The native of San Ramon, Calif. struck out the side in order in the second to highlight the run. She would finish the game having struck out the 10 batters with no walks and just five hits allowed over six innings of work.
Stanford, which was hitting .278 (15-for-54) with runners in scoring position and two out entering game, had early opportunities, but came up empty in each of the first three innings in that situation.
They would not need a two-out hit to break the scoreless game in the fourth, as Schultz connected for a towering two-run homer down the line in right field. Montana Dixon had won a nine-pitch at bat on the previous play, drawing a walk to put a runner aboard for Schultz' blast.
Now carrying a lead, Lee kept on cruising in the fifth, striking out a pair in a 1-2-3 inning to match her previous career high of nine strikeouts.
The only blemish on Lee's line came in the sixth inning when she allowed an infield single to Mackenzie Babbitt in front of a two-run home run from Jessica Alexander to tie the game at two runs apiece.
Stanford's offense responded nicely in the home half of the sixth, plating a run on Teaghan Cowles' clutch two-out RBI-double into left-centerfield to reclaim the lead at 3-2. The double plated Taylor Gindlesperger who had reached on a costly error two plays earlier.
Lee went out to try for the complete game in the seventh inning, but was relieved by Kiana Pancino following a leadoff single from Kenedee Jamerson. A stolen base pushed pinch runner Maddie Johnson to second, but the Card turned a crucial double play on the ensuing play to thwart the rally. Kristina Inouye fielded a ground ball at third, fired across the diamond to retire the batter, and Whitney Burks returned the throw to third where shortstop Emily Young applied the tag to Johnson who was trying to advance on the play. With the pressure relieved, Pancino induced a weak ground ball for the final out of the game, securing her third save of the year.
Stanford will return to action next week when it hosts the Stanford Invitational at Smith Family Stadium. The Card will welcome Northwestern, Montana, North Dakota State and Cal Poly for tournament play. Stanford's first game in the tournament is set for 4:45 p.m. PT against Northwestern on Friday, March 1.
