IRVINE, Calif. - Senior Alana Vawter was on a hot streak on Thursday, fanning eight Loyola Marymount hitters over seven innings of work to help lead the No. 17 Stanford Cardinal over the Lions 6-1 on day one of the Mark Campbell Invitational.
In addition to her eight strikeouts, Vawter (1-0) tossed seven innings, giving up one run on six hits and walking none for Stanford (1-0).
Junior Aly Kaneshiro led the way offensively for the Cardinal, going 2-for-4 in the ballgame with a double and two RBI. Senior Kaitlyn Lim furnished a noteworthy performance as well, going 2-for-3 with a walk and two RBI. Freshman River Mahler also chipped in, going 2-for-3 for Stanford with a double and an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Trailing 1-0, the Cardinal first put runs on the board in the fourth inning thanks to Kaneshiro's RBI double.
The game was tied until Stanford stepped up to the plate again, when the Cardinal got going again on offense. Stanford scored three runs in the frame, buoyed by a two-run single off the bat of Lim, which brought the Cardinal lead to 4-1.
Stanford kept Loyola Marymount without a run before expanding their lead to 6-1 the following inning. The Cardinal got run-scoring doubles from freshman NiJaree Canady and Mahler to pick up a couple of runs. Stanford held off LMU for the rest of the game, and coasted to the win.
GAME NOTES
» Vawter struck out eight Lions hitters.
» Stanford's highest scoring inning was the fifth, when it pushed three runs across.
» The Cardinal out-hit the Lions at a 9-6 clip.
» Stanford went 4-for-11 (.364) with runners in scoring position.
» Stanford pitchers faced 25 Loyola Marymount hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and three fly balls while striking out eight.
» Kaneshiro led the Cardinal at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI.
» Loyola Marymount was led offensively by Morgan DeBord, who went 1-for-3 with a triple.
» Jenna led the Lions pitching staff, throwing 4.1 innings of four-run ball.