SALT LAKE CITY – After Stanford jumped out to a 7-0 lead, Utah scored 12 unanswered runs to defeat the Cardinal, 12-7, Thursday, at Utah Softball Stadium in Salt Lake City. The Cardinal drops to 25-17 on the season and to 2-11 in the Pac-12, while the Utes improve to 19-19 and 4-11 in conference.
Junior Erin Ashby led the Cardinal, going 2-for-2 with a double a home run and four RBI. She also drew two walks in the game. Freshman Kylie Sorenson was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI, while designated player Tylyn Wells also tallied two hits.
Stanford scored three runs in the top of the first inning to give itself the early advantage. Junior left fielder Leah White hit a solo home run over the centerfield fence on just the second pitch of the game. After sophomore first baseman Kayla Bonstrom doubled to right center, Ashby brought her home with a two-run shot to left field.
The Cardinal tacked on four more runs in the second inning as Sorenson hit a two-run single to centerfield to bring home Hanna Winter and White. Ashby then hit a two-run double to plate Bonstrom and Sorenson.
The Utes slowly crept their way back into the game, getting a run across in the bottom of the second and the third. The gates opened for the Utes in the fourth and fifth innings, where they tacked on nine more runs, including a grand slam by shortstop Anissa Urtez.
Freshman pitcher Madi Schreyer started the game in the circle for the Cardinal. She went 4.1 innings giving up six runs on six hits. Sorensen (3-4) entered the circle in the fourth, picking up the loss.
Utah’s Mariah Ramirez earned the win, moving to 4-3. She went 3.0 scoreless innings giving up just one hit and a walk.
Stanford will look to even the series against the Utes on Friday, April 18. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. PT on the Pac-12 Networks.