STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford softball took advantage of its bye week from Pac-12 play and swept a doubleheader against LMU, Saturday at Smith Family Stadium.
The Cardinal (16-4), who drew a bye week for the opening weekend of Pac-12 play, outscored the Lions 14-3 on the day, winning the first game, 3-0, and run-ruled the opposition, 11-3m in the afternoon finale.
Taylor Gindlesperger and Eleni Spirakis batted in three runs on Saturday. Gindlesperger was 3-for-6 at the plate with a triple and two runs, while Spirakis was 1-for-6 – but she had a two RBI single and a sacrifice fly.
In the first game of the day, Stanford used a small ball offense to strike first in the bottom of the first inning for a pair of runs. Emily Young laid down a sacrifice bunt to put two runners in scoring position. Teaghan Cowles scored on a passed ball, while Taylor Gindlesperger was sent home on a two-out infield single from Emily Schultz.
The Cardinal has scored 29 runs in the first inning this season.
Alana Vawter led a strong defensive effort for Stanford, holding Loyola Marymount (11-12) to three hits on the afternoon. Stanford allowed only two batters to reach scoring position, with the Lions batting 0-for-5 in those situations.
Cowles scored an insurance run for Stanford in the bottom of the sixth on a RBI double from Young. Young has batted in five runs in her last five games.
In the second game of the day, the Cardinal scored in all but the third inning, and it had three multi-run innings, to end the game after six innings. All four of Stanford's runs in the bottom of the sixth came with two outs.
Aly Kaneshiro hit a two-out double to bat Sydney Steele in from first bat, before she was replaced by Hannah Matteson on the basepaths. Matteson scored on a Sydnee Huff single into left field. Huff scored on a wild pitch to put the Cardinal one run away from ending the game early.
Gindlesperger provided the game-winning hit on a single to the shortstop to bat Kaitlyn Lim in from third. Stanford hit .583 (7-for-12) with two outs in the second game.
Regan Krause posted a solid outing for Stanford, striking out five in 6.0 innings of work. The freshman did not allow a batter on until the fourth inning. Only one of Krause's three runs allowed was earned.
Stanford will close out the three-game series against Loyola Marymount on Sunday. First pitch will come at 12:30 p.m. PT, with the game being available online through the Stanford Live Stream.