STANFORD, Calif. – Haley Snyder was excellent in the circle but Stanford could not generate a run, dropping a 1-0 decision to California Saturday night.
Snyder (7-10) threw her eighth complete game of the season, holding the Golden Bears' (27-18-1, 8-7-1 Pac-12) offense to one run on five hits and four walks with five strikeouts. She came up big in crucial moments with runners in scoring position to help keep the Cardinal (13-28, 0-17 Pac-12) within striking distance throughout the game.
Stanford was ultimately undone in the top of the first inning when a wild pitch with two outs brought in Cal's Jazmyn Jackson from third for the early 1-0 lead.
The Bears would cling to that lead the remainder of the game, riding pitcher Nisa Ontiveros who was electric in the circle for the second straight night. Ontiveros racked up 16 strikeouts Saturday after a 13-strikeout performance in the series opener on Friday night.
Highlights from Stanford's game against California.
Kayla Bonstrom provided the Cardinal's lone hit, a booming double to the left-center field gap in the bottom of the second inning. Lauren Wegner walked later that inning to give Stanford its best scoring chance of the night. However, the Cardinal was unable to find the hit needed to bring them around and get on the board.
The Cardinal was strong defensively behind Snyder. In particular, third baseman Arden Pettit and shortstop Kaitlin Schaberg each made multiple quality plays to lock down the left side of the infield.
Stanford will look to take the series finale Sunday at 7 p.m. (PT). The game will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Network.