Stanford, Cal Open NCAA Softball Tournament With Wins
STANFORD (CBS / AP) -- Teagan Gerhart pitched a three-hit shutout as No. 15 seed Stanford opened play in the NCAA Regional at the Farm with a 3-0 victory over Pacific.
The host Cardinal (39-15) plays Fresno State, which beat Nebraska 1-0 in 10 innings, at noon Saturday in the winners' bracket game. UOP and Nebraska play at 3 p.m. in the losers' bracket of the double-elimination regional.
Second baseman Jenna Rich's two-run double to center field capped a three-run third inning when the Cardinal also capitalized on two UOP errors.
The sophomore Gerhart, sister of former Stanford football All-America Toby, had her 26th complete game of the season and third shutout.
No. 7 seed Cal defeated Jacksonville State 6-3 in the first round of the NCAA Regional in Louisville, Ky., behind the pitching of Jolene Henderson and the hitting of center fielder Frani Echavarria (3 for 4, a run and an RBI), third baseman Jace Williams (2 for 3, a run and an RBI) and first baseman Jordan Wallace (2 RBIs).
The Bears (40-10) face host Louisville in the winners' bracket game at 11 a.m. Saturday. Chelsea Bemis' three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth, the second extra inning, gave the Cardinals a 5-2 win over Illinois-Chicago.
