STANFORD, Calif. – An early deficit and a tough offensive day was too much for Stanford to overcome Saturday as it fell to No. 2/2 UCLA 9-0 in five innings.
After putting up 12 runs on 12 hits in Friday night’s contest, the Cardinal (29-22, 4-16 Pac-12) had difficulty getting going at the plate, mustering three hits and never advancing a runner past first base. Leah White, Kylie Sorenson and Tylyn Wells registered Stanford’s three hits.
UCLA’s Ally Carda (26-3) was strong in the circle, recording two strikeouts not allowing a walk. The Bruins (45-5, 16-4 Pac-12) provided Carda with plenty of run support, scoring nine runs in four innings on eight hits.
Madi Schreyer (21-13) pitched for the Cardinal and permitted seven earned runs on eight hits and one walk, and struck out one.
After a scoreless first inning, Carda helped her own cause in the second when she hit a three-run home run to give UCLA an early lead.
Stanford threatened in the top of the third when Wells and White delivered back-to-back singles. However, the Cardinal was unable to capitalize and the score remained 3-0 in favor of the Bruins.
UCLA rallied for four runs in the third inning. Four of the first five Bruin batters reached base and eight players saw pitches in the inning.
Kylie Sorenson led off the fourth inning with a single but she would be the final Cardinal player to reach base in the game.
UCLA extended its lead to 9-0 in the bottom of the fourth when a Cardinal error allowed two runs to score.
Stanford was unable to generate the runs needed to keep the game going in the seventh.
The Cardinal will look to win the series Sunday at noon (PT) in a game televised on ESPN.