STANFORD, Calif. – No. 9 Arizona struck early to clinch the series with a 4-0 shutout over Stanford, Friday, at Smith Family Stadium.
Arizona (40-13, 13-10 Pac-12) picked up its 11th consecutive victory and won the series against the Cardinal (23-31, 2-21 Pac-12) for the ninth straight year.
Stanford was held to just three hits on the evening. Redshirt junior Whitney Burks and sophomore Kristina Inouye both singled in the first inning, while senior Arden Pettit had a base-hit to lead off the fourth. For the game, the Cardinal stranded six baserunners.
Arizona pitcher Alyssa Denham collected the win, moving to 11-3 overall. Stanford sophomore Nikki Bauer (2-7) took the loss in the circle. She finished with four strikeouts, while giving up four runs on nine hits and issued four walks in a complete game.
1-0 ?? | M2
— Stanford Softball (@StanfordSball) May 12, 2018
Arizona held scoreless in the top half. @Nik_bauer07 taking matters into her own hands.
Watch live: @Pac12Network #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/GlT89kgRIS
The Wildcats took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first as first baseman Alyssa Palomino hit a double down the right line to score lead-off hitter Jenna Kean from second.
Arizona added another run in the third when sophomore Jessie Harper singled to left field with runners on the corners, bringing home Kean again.
The Wildcats completed their scoring in the fourth inning. Second baseman Reyna Carranco hit a two-run double, plating pinch runner Ivy Davis and Carli Campbell.
Stanford and Arizona will meet for the series finale on Saturday at 12 p.m. on Pac-12 Networks. The Cardinal will recognize its three seniors, Pettit, Victoria Molina and Lauren Wegner, in a pregame ceremony.
4-0 ?? | M5
— Stanford Softball (@StanfordSball) May 12, 2018
Nothing doing for the Wildcats. Some nice D from Molina ends the inning.#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/ZzA3TfRBR9