SANTA CLARA, Calif. – No. 25 Stanford (28-6) matched a season high with 13 runs on 15 hits on Tuesday en route to running away with a 13-0 shutout victory over Santa Clara (8-26) from Santa Clara's SCU Softball Field.
The Cardinal combined for six extra-base hits, including a grand slam from freshman Taylor Gindlesperger for her first career round-tripper. Junior Montana Dixon also homered, while Teaghan Cowles and Emily Schultz contributed triples to push Stanford to 20 three-baggers on the season.
Overshadowed by the outpouring of run support, three Stanford pitchers combined to toss a two-hit shutout. Senior Carolyn Lee got the start and allowed just two hits and a walk over 2.1 innings of work. Sophomore Maddy Dwyer went the next 1.2 innings before freshman Molly Millar shut the door in the fifth to seal the run-rule win. Dwyer was credited with the victory, moving to 10-4 on the season.
Stanford set the tone early on Tuesday, scoring three runs in the opening frame. Senior Whitney Burks contributed the big hit, delivering a two-RBI double off the wall in left field.
After Cowles' team-leading fifth triple of the year extended the lead to 4-0 in the second, Stanford pushed five runs across in the third to claim a 9-0 lead after three. Schultz drove in two of the five with a triple, while Gindlesperger and Emily Klingaman each drove in a run with a single to go along with a solo homer from Dixon.
Here's that ?? from @Montanamariee12!#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/DAiHVLECD0
— Stanford Softball (@StanfordSball) April 10, 2019
Gindlesperger, who finished the game 2-for-3 with two runs scored and five RBI, put the finishing touches on the rout in the fourth, lacing a two-out grand slam to right field. The grand slam was the third of the year for Stanford.
They were loaded for @taylornicole25, and she unloaded them in a hurry!#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/31K9yhDB06
— Stanford Softball (@StanfordSball) April 10, 2019
Other highlights offensively included a 3-for-4 day from Cowles, and two-hit games from Klingaman, Dixon, Emily Young and Schultz.
With the Tuesday victory, Stanford is off to its best start since the 2010 squad went 30-5 over their first 35 games (29-5 through 34 games).
Stanford will return to action on Friday at 7 p.m. when it opens a three-game Pac-12 series at home against Utah.