Series ClinchedSeries Clinched
Softball

Series Clinched

Box Score

TEMPE, Ariz. – Aly Kaneshiro and Kylie Chung each knocked one out of the park to lead No. 8 Stanford to an 8-1 win over Arizona State, Saturday, at Farrington Stadium.

Stanford (37-10, 12-8 Pac-12) captured its first best-of-three series win at ASU in program history. The Cardinal sits in a tie for fourth place in the conference with Utah, and is just one game back in the loss column behind second place Washington (14-7) and third place Oregon (13-7).

Kaneshiro recorded her seventh multi-hit game of the season, going 2-for-4 with a solo home run and three RBI. Chung was 1-for-3 with a two-run shot in the second inning. It was the first multi-home run game of the season for the Cardinal.

Freshman NiJaree Canady tossed five innings, striking out 11 batters while giving up just one run on five hits to improve to 12-0 in the circle. It marked her sixth double-digit strikeout performance of the season.

The Cardinal took an early lead as Kaneshiro hit a solo home run off Sun Devil pitcher Marissa Schuld with two outs in the first.

In the next frame, shortstop Emily Young led off with a single to right field. Chung followed up with a two-run homer to left center to increase Stanford's lead to 3-0.

Canady held Arizona State scoreless, registering seven strikeouts through the first three innings. The Cardinal added to its lead in the fourth, plating four in the inning. Two wild pitches from ASU's Kenzie Brown allowed Emily Schultz and Kyra Chan to score. Kaneshiro's two-run single through the left side scored Mahler and Taylor Gindlesperger to put Stanford up 7-0. 

With two outs in the fifth and Chung on first, Chan kept things alive with a single through the right side. Mahler then singled to center field to score Chung and give the Cardinal an 8-0 advantage.

Arizona State avoided the run rule, scoring a run in the bottom of the fifth.

With two on and no outs, Alana Vawter entered the game in relief in the sixth. The senior threw two shutout innings with a strikeout while allowing one hit and one walk in 2.0 innings of work.

Stanford, which locked up its fifth series win of the season, will go for the sweep over Arizona State on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for Noon.

GAME NOTES
» The Stanford pitching staff combined to strike out 12 Arizona State hitters.
» The Cardinal out-hit the Sun Devils, 8-6.
» Stanford went 3-for-9 (.333) with runners in scoring position.
» Stanford pitchers limited Arizona State to just 1-for-9 (.111) with runners in scoring position.
» The Cardinal drew five walks from Arizona State pitching.
» Kaneshiro recorded her sixth home run of the season, leading the Cardinal, and Chung notched her third.