SALT LAKE CITY – Stanford was unable to avoid multiple big innings by Utah Friday and dropped back-to-back decisions against the Utes.
The Cardinal (13-25, 0-14 Pac-12) mounted a late comeback in game two that ultimately fell short after suffering a tough series-opening defeat. Stanford fell 13-0 in five innings in the first game before battling to an 8-6 defeat in game two.
Stanford had trouble getting out of innings in the first game with Utah scoring 12 of its 13 runs with two outs.
Jessica Plaza and Lauren Wegner contributed Stanford's two hits in the game in back-to-back at-bats in the first inning.
Carolyn Lee (6-15) got the start in the circle and went 2.0 innings, permitting seven runs – three earned – on six hits and three walks. Haley Snyder came in as relief in the third inning and allowed six runs on eight hits and two walks with two strikeouts in 2.0 innings.
Stanford put together a two-out rally in the bottom of the first inning but could not capitalize. Jessica Plaza hit a double to the right-center field gap and Lauren Wegner followed with a single up the middle to put runners on first and third.
That was all the Cardinal would get, going hitless in the final four innings.
The Cardinal found itself in an early hole when Utah's Anissa Urtez hit a two-run home run to left field in the bottom half of the first inning.
The Utes rallied for a run with two outs in the bottom of the second inning. Utah reeled off four additional runs to make the score 7-0 after a Stanford error extended the inning.
Stanford retired two of the first four batters in the bottom of the third inning but again ran into trouble with two outs. The Utes struck for six runs on six hits in the inning to extend their lead to 13-0.
The Cardinal could not generate the runs needed to extend the game past the fifth inning.
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Stanford scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning but it was not quite enough to overcome a six-run deficit, as the Cardinal fell 8-6.
Lee retired six of first eight batters but ran into trouble in the bottom of the third inning. Utah loaded the bases with no outs and Anissa Urtez doubled down the left field line to plate two runs. After a walk reloaded the bases, Kristen Stewart hit a three-RBI double to give the Utes a 5-0 lead. Utah added two additional runs to extend its lead to 7-0.
Snyder entered the game in the third inning and shut down Utah's lineup, permitting just one run on four hits with a strikeout in 3.1 innings.
Stanford broke through in the top of the fourth inning, scoring two runs to cut Utah's lead to 7-2. Plaza got the rally going with her second double of the day, a shot to the right-center field gap. Snyder brought her home with a double of her own – this time to center field.
T4 - @HaleySnyder21 trades places with @plazaj22 to get Stanford on the board. #GoStanford #StanSB pic.twitter.com/DnZ7G2U2wm
— Stanford Softball (@StanfordSball) April 23, 2016
Haley Snyder got Stanford on the board with an RBI-double.
The Cardinal generated another quality scoring opportunity in the fifth inning with its first two runners reaching base. However, a double play halted the rally and Stanford could not find the hits needed to cut into Utah's lead.
The Utes added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 8-2.
The Cardinal continued to battle and rallied for four runs with two outs in the top of the seventh inning. With runners on first and second, Plaza hit an RBI-single to center field to cut the deficit to 8-3.
Wegner followed with a three-run home run to left field to close the gap to 8-6. It was her first home run of the season and second of her career.
Stanford was unable to sustain the rally, however, and dropped its second game of the day to the Utes.
The Cardinal looks to take the finale Saturday at 4 p.m. (PT).