In its penultimate non-conference game of the regular season, the Stanford softball team (27-18, 3-12 Pac-12) bulldozed Santa Clara (7-27, 2-4 WCC) 8-0 in a five-inning run-rule decision. The Cardinal were never tested by the Broncos in the brisk 79-minute contest, as they scored three runs in the bottom of the second inning before scoring five more runs in the bottom of the fifth to end the game early.
While freshman pitcher Madi Schreyer has had an up-and-down season thus far, the Woodinville, Wash. native had a solid performance in the circle for Stanford against SCU. Schreyer yielded only four total base runners in a complete-game shutout, simply overpowering the Broncos for most of her efficient 53-pitch outing. Schreyer induced multiple weak grounders and infield popouts, as Stanford pitching recorded only three flyouts in the entire game. Finally, although Schreyer did commit an error against Santa Clara, she was more assertive with her fielding opportunities, recording two putouts and an assist on defense.
Offensively, junior Leah White had a team-high three hits and three RBIs in a 3-for-3 night at the plate. She got the Cardinal off to a fast start in the bottom of the first with a leadoff single to right field on a 1-0 delivery from Broncos sophomore starter Ciara Gonzales. White followed up the hit in the bottom of the first with a two-run single to center field in the second inning to give Stanford a 2-0 lead. After a double to left-center field in the bottom of the fourth, White finished her night with her third RBI on a sacrifice fly to extend the Card’s lead to 7-0.
Junior Tylyn Wells also had a strong showing for Stanford against the Broncos, as the Concord, Calif. native reached safely in all three of her plate appearances. Wells began her night with a walk to load the bases for White’s two-run single. Subsequently, Wells doubled to left-center field in the fourth before she notched an RBI single in the fifth to increase the Cardinal’s lead to 6-0. Wells’ hit also chased Gonzales from the circle in favor of reliever Briana Rios.
Stanford returns to action on Friday night against No. 1 Oregon (41-5, 14-1 Pac-12) at Smith Family Stadium at 7 p.m.
Contact David Cohn at dmcohn ‘at’ stanford.edu.