KD5_4797_01KD5_4797_01
Karen Ambrose Hickey
Softball

Doubling Down on Run Rules

STANFORD, Calif. - Freshman Emily Schultz batted 5-for-6 with three doubles, a home run and seven RBI over a doubleheader to guide Stanford (23-4) to a pair of run-rule walk-off victories over Saint Mary's (7-23) on Wednesday afternoon.

Schultz went 3-for-3 with three doubles and three RBI while hitting out of the eighth spot in the order in game one, an 8-0 victory in five innings, before launching a three-run homer as part of a 2-for-3 effort in the finale, an 8-0 victory in six frames.

Schultz entered the game hitting .200, but finishes Wednesday batting .306.

The native of Aurora, Ill. contributed the walk-off hit in game one, shooting a double off the wall in left field to plate Hannah Howell and Emily Young. The double was the eighth and final two-bagger for the Card in the contest – the most for Stanford since collecting eight against Wagner on February 8, 2009.

Stanford collected three doubles in the three-run first inning of game one, including RBI-doubles from Whitney Burks and Howell. Montana Dixon and Kristina Inouye would also go back-to-back with doubles in the third before Schultz collected her second of the game to once again hang a three on the board in that frame.

Leading 6-0 headed into the fifth, Schultz came to the plate with runners at first and second and two out, and delivered the clutch game-winner that sent Young racing around the bags to score all the way from first.

Sophomore Maddy Dwyer picked up the victory in both games on Wednesday, improving to 8-2 with the decisions. The right-hander dealt three perfect innings in game one, striking out four, before handing the ball over to Nikki Bauer who went the rest of the way.

Schultz was one of four Cardinal hitters to post two hits in game two, as Howell went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. Junior Teaghan Cowles posted a double and a triple in the game – running her career triples total to 14.

Stanford scored twice in the second inning and one more in the third to carry a 3-0 cushion into the fourth. Still leading by the same margin in the fifth, the Cardinal got three runs on Schultz' second homer of the year – a mammoth shot to straight-away centerfield.

Needing two runs to end the game early in the sixth, Stanford managed to load the bases on a single and two walks, bringing Howell to the plate. The left-handed hitting outfielder slapped a ground ball to short that was bobbled, allowing a run to score and keeping the bases loaded. Young followed and drew a five-pitch walk, sending the Cardinal onto the field with a literal walk-off win.

Dwyer, who dealt the first 5.1 innings of game two, picked up the win after allowing just two hits and two walks. Kiana Pancino ensured the consecutive shutouts by logging the final two-thirds of an inning and striking out one.

Stanford will take Thursday off from action before hosting Oregon in a three-game Pac-12 series starting on Friday at 7 p.m.