Boyd's Big DayBoyd's Big Day
Softball

Boyd's Big Day

  • Game 1
  • Game 2
Box Score

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Freshman Tatum Boyd turned in a day for the ages in her first collegiate action, contributing a walk-off two-RBI single in the first game of the day before tossing a complete-game shutout to secure a second win on Friday from the GCU Kickoff Tournament.

Following the two wins, Stanford improves to 3-0 on the season.

Trailing 6-4 headed into the bottom of the seventh inning, Stanford rallied for three runs on three hits, including the walk-off single from Boyd, to capture a 7-6 victory over New Mexico on Friday afternoon.

With that win, Stanford posted victories in the final at bat in each of its first two games this season.

After falling behind 1-2 in the count, Boyd battled to win a 12-pitch at bat with a bloop single into right-center field to chase home fellow freshmen Kaitlyn Lim and Sydney Steele. Boyd, a native of Plano, Texas, entered the game as a pinch hitter and finished 2-for-3 with three RBI.

Sophomore Taylor Gindlesperger continued her hot start to the season, going 3-for-3 with a run scored and two RBIs while hitting out of the ninth spot in the order.

The Cardinal fell behind early on Friday afternoon, trailing 5-0 after two frames as the Lobos scored twice in the first inning and three more in the second.

Stanford finally broke through in the fourth inning when Boyd delivered a pinch-hit, two-out RBI-single into centerfield. Gindlesperger followed suit on the ensuing play, lining a single into right field to cut the deficit to 5-2.

Gindlesperger got back to work in the sixth inning, legging out a two-out infield single to bring home pinch-runner Hannah Matteson and keep the inning alive for Teaghan Cowles. Cowles took advantage of the opportunity, lacing an RBI-triple to right field to push the tally to 5-4.

The triple was the 16th of Cowles' career – moving her within two of the Stanford record held by Ashley Hansen.

Sydney Broderick got one run back for NMU via the home run in the top of the seventh, but the Cardinal answered the bell in the home half. Emily Young got the inning started with a walk before Kristina Inouye singled to put the tying runs aboard. Brianna Sanchez got the next two hitters without incident, but Lim punched a two-out single into right field to score a run and bring Boyd to the plate. Lim stole second to get into scoring position and Boyd stayed alive in the count before winning the battle and the game.

The Cardinal used four pitchers in the game-one victory, highlighted by 4.2 innings of scoreless work from sophomore Molly Millar. The right-hander struck out four before turning the ball over to senior Kiana Pancino. Pancino punched out three more over 1.1 innings before moving to 1-0 on the season following the comeback in the seventh.With a walk-off hit already in her back pocket, Boyd took to the circle in game two of the day to face Grand Canyon. The right-hander dealt the shutout, allowing just three hits and no walks while striking out one. Boyd officially threw 70 pitches, including 55 for strikes.

Boyd was perfect through 3.1 innings and worked around a pair of Cardinal errors to keep the no-hitter and shutout in tact through 4.2 innings of work.

Stanford's three runs of support proved plenty enough for Boyd, as the Cardinal scored single runs in the third, fourth and seventh.

Young delivered an RBI-single in the third inning to bring home Cowles before the Cardinal received a double from Montana Dixon and two productive ground balls to make it 2-0 in the fourth. Adding an insurance run in the top of the seventh, Dixon hit a hot-shot off the glove of GCU's third baseman to chase home Sydney Steele who had reached via a walk earlier in the frame.

Cowles finished the game 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored, while Inouye also collected three hits out of the third spot in the order.

The Cardinal will play two more games on Saturday, meeting New Mexico at 9:30 a.m. PT and closing out the day against Weber State at 12 p.m. PT.