Courtesy: Jenna Rich
STANFORD, Calif. - No 22/17 Stanford defeated Brigham Young and Portland State on the third day of the Louisville Slugger Classic to improve to 21-6 on the year.
Kylie Sorenson, Erin Ashby and Kayla Bonstrom propelled the team offensively, accounting for 13 of Stanford's 20 hits. Sorenson went 4-for-5 with a double and two walks while Ashby went 5-for-7 with a double and three RBI. Bonstrom was 4-for-6 on the day with a double, a walk, and four RBI.
Madi Schreyer (16-4) started the first game in the circle against BYU, while Kylie Sorenson got the first save of her collegiate career. Schreyer contributed six innings of work, allowing five earned runs on seven hits with one walk while striking out two. Sorenson entered the circle in the top of the seventh, not allowing a hit.
Stanford began to generate runs in the top of the fourth when Ashby and Jessica Plaza hit back-to-back singles up the middle, followed by Tylyn Wells who reached on an error to load the bases. Hanna Winter brought Ashby in on a single and then Leah White beat out a hit to the shortstop to score Plaza and put Stanford up 2-0.
The Cougars responded in the top of the fifth after Schreyer walked Megan Arnold and allowed a hit up the middle by Sydney Broderick. Pinch-runner Lacey Millett-Hofstedt scored on a passed ball, and Broderick advanced to third. Mercedes O'Connor then singled to right field to score Broderick and knot the score at 2-2.
Stanford answered with two more runs in the bottom of the bottom half of the inning to regain the lead, 4-2.
BYU went ahead in the top of the sixth when Coco Tauali'i led off the inning with a bunt single. Gordy Bravo then singled through the left side and Hofstedt reached first after being hit by a pitch. On a wild pitch, Tauali'I was able to reach home and then Bravo scored on a grounder back to the pitcher. Another wild pitch brought home the last run for the Cougars to go up 5-4.
Down by one in the bottom of the sixth, Sorenson led off with a double down the left field line. Corey Hanewich pinch-ran and scored on a single by Bonstrom to right field.
Cassandra Roulund followed by roping a triple to score Bonstrom. Roulund provided the final run of the game on a passed ball to extend Stanford's lead to 7-5. The Cardinal was able to hold BYU scoreless in the top of the seventh to secure the win.
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In the second game of the day against Portland State, Sorenson (2-0) started in the circle to pick up the second win of her career in five innings of work. She allowed three hits, walked two and struck out two.
At the plate, the Cardinal continued its strong performance, scoring nine runs to run-rule Portland State. Bonstrom supplied the Cardinal with three hits and three RBI, while Ashby contributed two hits and two RBI.
Stanford broke through in the first inning after Sorenson scored on a single by Bonstrom through the right side.
The Cardinal was unable to manufacture additional runs until the bottom of the fourth when the offense proved to handle the right side of the field well.
Sorenson and Bonstrom hit back-to-back shots to right field, with Bonstrom's providing a RBI. Ashby then doubled to right field to bring home Bonstrom, followed by a single up the middle by Lauren Bertoy to score Ashby, putting Stanford up 4-0.
The lone run scored by Portland State came in the top of the fifth. Brianna Celaya doubled to right center and managed to score on an error by Bertoy. Stanford's defense put away the next three batters.
Stanford added five runs in the bottom of the fifth. Winter was hit by a pitch and proceeded to steal second. Leah White then reached on an error by the first baseman.
Sorenson walked to load up the bases and Bonstrom continued her hot streak by singling down the left field for an RBI. Roulund hit a deep fly to center field next to score White.
Ashby's single to center field brought in an additional run and Wells brought the game to an end with a single through the right side to score two.
The Cardinal returns Sunday afternoon at 12:15 p.m. to face the UC Davis Aggies and looks to finish strong before heading into Pac-12 Conference play next Friday against Cal at home.