LOUISVILLE – Stanford shook off yesterday’s loss this afternoon, scoring 10 runs to beat the Louisville Cardinals (13-4, 1-1). The win puts the No. 16 Card at 11-5 on the season, and 1-1 in ACC play.
Stanford jumped out to a first inning lead, scoring three runs on five hits to start the day. Taryn Kern led off with a double, her third-straight game with an extra-base hit. The hard hits kept coming – Jade Berry followed it up with a home run to right field to score Kern and make it a 2-0 lead early.
Kyra Chan doubled, the Cardinal’s third extra-base hit in the first four at-bats, and scored on a River Mahler RBI single.
With a 3-0 lead heading into the home half of the frame, Louisville responded with unearned runs in the first two innings to cut the lead to 3-2.
Louisville struck for five runs in the bottom of the third, taking the lead at 7-3.
Stanford answered right back in the top of the fourth, plating six runs on three hits to retake the lead at 9-7. Kern brought in the first run with a bases-loaded walk, then Berry singled to bring in a run and make it 7-5.
Ava Gall scored on the next at-bat, crossing home on an errant throw to the plate. Kyra Chan singled to tie it at 7-7, then River Mahler put the Cardinal ahead on an RBI groundout. Economides, in her second at-bat of the inning, singled to add an insurance run at 9-7.
Louisville threatened again in the bottom of the fifth, drawing back-to-back walks to start the inning. After a sacrifice bunt moved both into scoring position, Zoe Prystajko struck out a pair to close the inning without a run scoring.
Economides drove in another insurance run in the sixth, driving a sacrifice fly into center to make it 10-7. The RBI made her 2-2 with a walk and two runs driven in on the day.
The home team pushed a run across in the seventh, but Prystajko again struck out back-to-back Cardinals to close the inning.
Prystajko finished with her first save of the season, striking out five and allowing just one run on one hit in three innings of work.
The Card closes the weekend tomorrow, taking on Louisville for the decisive game three of the series. The game will be broadcast on ACC Network, with first pitch scheduled for 3:00 p.m. PT.
POSTGAME NOTES:
- Senior Ella Murchison made her first start of the season, and fourth of her career, starting at catcher.
- Junior Jade Berry’s home run in the first inning was her second of the season and 23rd of her career.
- Sophomore Zoe Prystajko picked up her first save of the season, tossing the final three innings while allowing just one run on one hit, striking out five.
- Stanford scored seven or more runs for the ninth time this season.