The St. Mary’s baseball team arrived at Stanford’s Sunken Diamond on Wednesday sporting the nation’s earned run average of 2.04. The Gaels left with something much higher.
With Austin Wilson going 3-for-5 with two RBI and freshman Alex Blandino hitting his first career home run, the No. 2-ranked Stanford posted a 10-4 nonconference victory on Wednesday night.
The game with the Gaels was added following a rainout with UC Davis on Tuesday. After visiting Arizona this weekend for three games, Stanford (16-3) will host St. Mary’s (14-9) again on Monday at 5:30 p.m.
The Cardinal broke out the bats in the fourth, taking a 9-3 lead, with five unearned runs. The inning ending groundout was bobbled by shortstop Darian Ramage, allowing the first of five runs to score. Wilson followed with an RBI single, before Blandino hit his first career home run, a three-run shot.
Stanford used a four-run second to erase an early 1-0 lead by the Gaels. An RBI double by Menlo School grad Kenny Diekroeger tied the game, before an RBI single by Lonnie Kauppila followed by an RBI double off the wall by Jake Stewart made it 4-1.
Dean McArdle (2-0), in his first start of the season, gave up one run over the first two innings for the win.
In relieving McArdle, Sam Lindquist struggled in his three innings, giving up four hits, walking one, hitting two batters and allowing SMC to close to within 4-3 in the fourth. Stanford then answered with the five-run fourth.
Stephen Piscotty, a preseason All-American at third base, came on to pitch the ninth. He had not pitched since appearing in three games as a freshman. He struck out his first batter, then gave up an infield single and a walk, until a double play ended the night.
Softball
Nationally No. 13 Stanford snapped a three-game skid with a 9-2 win over visiting Santa Clara on Wednesday at Smith Family Stadium. The Cardinal improved to 26-6 overall, while the Broncos dropped to 5-25.
Stanford freshman pitcher Nyree White earned the start in the circle, her ninth of the year. She threw 3 1/3 innings, tallying three strikeouts and allowing two runs on five hits. Junior Teagan Gerhart entered the game in relief in the fourth and picked up the win, moving to 21-3 overall. She finished with four strikeouts and allowed just one hit and no walks.
Stanford took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second. The Cardinal loaded the bases before senior catcher Maya Burns drew a walk to score designated player Jenna Rich. Freshman Leah White was then hit by a pitch, scoring senior Jenna Becerra, and senior Ashley Hansen drew a walk to score sophomore Corey Hanewich.
The Broncos answered in the top of the third, cutting the lead to 3-2, but Stanford answered right back in the bottom of the inning. Becerra doubled to right field, advanced to third and came home as Santa Clara pitcher Jaymi Bautista-Geiger was called for two illegal pitches.
Santa Clara loaded the bases in the top of the fourth, forcing head coach John Rittman to make a pitching change. Gerhart entered the inning with one out and struck out the next two batters to keep the Cardinal lead at 5-3.
Stanford increased its lead to 9-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning. Hansen led off the inning with a single to left centerfield. She advanced to third as Rich singled to right field, moving to second on the throw. After Becerra drew a walk, rookie Cassandra Roulund hit a doubled to left centerfield, scoring Hansen and Rich. Becerra then scored on a wild pitch before Burns brought Roulund home with a double to center field.
The Cardinal continues Pac-12 play on the road at Arizona this weekend.
Women’s tennis
Stanford continues to play better than its No. 4 national ranking would indicate as the Cardinal improved to 11-0 with a 7-0 victory over host UNLV on Wednesday.
Stanford swept all three doubles matches to claim a 1-0 lead. In singles play, the Cardinal was tested at the top two spots of the lineup but produced straight-set victories in the lower four positions of the lineup.
Nationally No. 3-ranked Nicole Gibbs won at No. 1 singles, 7-6 (8-6), 6-3, and No. 4 Mallory Burdette survived at No. 2 singles, 7-5, 3-6, 10-8.
Stanford returns home this weekend, hosting Arizona State on Friday at 1:30 p.m. and Arizona on Saturday at noon.
Men’s tennis
Nationally No. 8 Stanford suffered a 6-1 loss at No. 7 Pepperdine on Wednesday afternoon in its return to the court for the first time in almost three weeks.
Playing its first match since a 5-2 win over Yale on March 10, the Cardinal (10-5) collected one win in singles after losing the doubles point.
John Morrissey’s 6-3, 6-4 victory at the No. 4 spot accounted for the only scoring as Stanford lost for only the second time in six matches.
Stanford’s road trip continues this weekend, at Arizona on Friday and at Utah on Sunday.
Don’t forget to mention that Alex Bladino was a former Palo Alto resident, and graduated from St. Francis high school. He played little league in Palo Alto!