Seven-Run FirstSeven-Run First
Karen Ambrose Hickey/Stanford Athletics
Softball

Seven-Run First

Box Score

STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford's bats came out swinging on Saturday night, as the Cardinal (14-2) scored seven times on five hits and two errors in the first inning en route to running away with an 8-0 run-rule victory over Montana (4-15) from Smith Family Stadium and the Stanford Invitational.

The Cardinal chased starter Maddy Stensby after just 13 pitches as the right-hander failed to record an out and was charged with four runs on one hit, a walk and a hit batter. Stanford took advantage of a pair of early errors charged to the Griz to claim a 3-0 lead, but the big blow came off the bat of freshman Emily Young. Young came to the plate with the bases loaded and one out, and promptly split the gap in right-centerfield to clear the bags and hand the Cardinal a 6-0 lead. She would eventually come in to score on a passed ball later in the inning to cap the seven-run first.

Young, a native of Mason, Ohio, finished the game 2-for-2 with a double and a triple. Stanford's second triple of the game set up what proved to be the clinching run in the run-rule victory as Molly Fowkes lined a ball to the wall in right field with one out in the fifth. After Taylor Gindlesperger took over on the bases, the freshman scampered home on a wild pitch to end the game.

Junior Nikki Bauer was credited with the victory in relief as she dealt 3.2 scoreless innings, surrendering just two hits. Bauer moved to 2-0 with the win.

Senior Whitney Burks joined Young with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-2 while hitting out of the cleanup spot in the order.

Stanford will return to action on Sunday when it hosts North Dakota State and Cal Poly at 11:15 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., respectively, to finish play from the Stanford Invitational.