STANFORD, Calif. – Whitney Burks homered but Stanford could not generate the offense needed to keep pace with California, dropping the series-opener Friday, 10-1.
Burks provided the only hit for the Cardinal (13-27, 0-16 Pac-12) through the first six innings, a leadoff solo home run to center field in the bottom of the third. Stanford could not figure out California starter Nisa Ontiveros (12-5) who permitted just two hits and one run while racking up 13 strikeouts.
Carolyn Lee (6-18) got the start in the circle for the Cardinal and did well to keep Stanford within striking distance through the first six innings, holding the Bears (26-18-1, 7-1 Pac-12) to five runs. She finished the game permitting 10 runs – four earned – on 11 hits and three walks with two strikeouts.
Lee and catcher Arden Pettit provided the defensive highlights for Stanford. With starter Jessica Plaza out for the game with injury, Pettit moved from third to behind the plate and threw out a Bears runner trying to steal second in the top of the fourth inning. She was active behind the plate throughout the game, throwing behind base runners to limit their leads.
Lee made a terrific play on a suicide squeeze attempt in the top of the fifth inning. With runners on second and third, the batter laid down a bunt as the runner from third raced home. Lee picked up the ball with her glove and flipped it to Pettit with her glove hand to get the runner at home.
Highlights from Stanford's game against California.
While there were moments of defensive brilliance, the Cardinal struggled as a whole, tying its season-high of four errors.
California jumped out to an early lead with a pair of runs in the first and third innings. The Bears added a run in the top of the fifth and doubled its lead in the seventh, rallying for five runs to take a commanding 10-1 lead.
Molly Fowkes led off with a single in the bottom of the seventh but Stanford was unable to mount a comeback.
The Cardinal looks to even the series Saturday at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Network.