Tuesday was Ashley Chinn’s day.

After having spent much of a very successful first season in the shadow of star pitcher junior Missy Penna, freshman Ashley Chinn broke out Tuesday, overpowering Boston College hitters to lead Stanford to a 5-1 victory in its first game of a 16 game home-stand.

Chinn struck out a career high 11 batters while allowing just two hits and one walk in the complete game win.

Sophomore centerfielder Alissa Haber led the somewhat sluggish Stanford offense with two hits — including a massive opposite field three-run home run — two runs scored, and three RBI.

But it was Chinn who stood out.

The freshman pitcher began the game by striking out the first two batters, and took a no-hitter into the fourth inning. The Eagles only managed to get on the board with two outs in the bottom of the seventh when Irene Delagrammaticas doubled home pinch runner Allie Thurnstrom following Chinn’s lone walk of the day.

Head coach John Rittman was thrilled with the performance of his young right hander.

“Ashley finally pitched the way she is capable of pitching in a game situation,” Rittman said. “We’ve all seen her throw like that in inter-squad games, but today was the first time she has put it all together in a real game.”

Chinn moved to 7-0 on the season with the victory, as the Cardinal bounced back from a heart-breaking loss Sunday to improve its impressive record to 21-2.

Chinn was happy to see it all come together today.

“I’ve been struggling a bit lately,” she said. “Today I just went out there with a confident, comfortable attitude, and pitched the best game I have in while.”

Stanford got on the board quickly in the first inning. After Haber singled through the right side, senior left fielder Tricia Aggabao bunted safely for a base hit. When no one covered third, Haber alertly scampered over to put runners on the corners with nobody out. Junior shortstop Maddy Coon then followed with a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Haber.

That was all the Cardinal would manage that inning, as well as for the next four, until finally figuring out Eagle pitcher Allison Gage.

Holding a slim 1-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth, sophomore catcher Rosey Neill led the inning with her team-leading ninth home run. With one out, sophomore second baseman Shannon Koplitz singled. Senior pinch hitter Erin Howe then slapped a single to left, setting the stage for Haber.

The preseason All-American took the first pitch she saw, a high fastball, and drove it the opposite way over the left field fence to put the Cardinal up 5-0.

“The new pitcher threw harder, so I just figured I’d go up there and swing at the first pitch and see what happened,” Haber said.

What happened was her fifth home run of the year.

Rittman has been extraordinarily pleased with the play of Haber and Neill.

“Rosey and Alissa are a couple of sophomores who have really matured as hitters this year,” Rittman said. “Every game it has been a different part of our lineup hitting, but the two of them have been great all year.”

The two sophomores are the team’s two leading hitters, as Neill is hitting .409 with nine home runs and 26 RBI, while Haber is hitting .365 with five home runs and 14 RBI from the leadoff spot.

Despite her own play, Haber felt that the most important thing that came from Tuesday’s game was Chinn’s performance.

“Today was really promising,” said Haber. “Missy can’t do it all, and come Pac-10 season we are going to need two dominant pitchers, and Ashley showed she could be one today.”

Chinn understands that even when the Stanford offense is struggling like it did in the middle innings Tuesday, it has the ability to explode at any time.

“This team has great chemistry, and I know as long as I keep the team in the game, good things will happen,” Chinn said.

The Cardinal will need Chinn to pitch well this weekend as the team prepares for The Stanford Classic, a four-day tournament in which it will play six games.

The team opens in the tournament tomorrow at 4 p.m. against Campbell University at Smith Family Stadium.