STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford erased a late 5-0 deficit but could not complete the comeback, dropping an 11-5 decision against California Sunday night.
The Cardinal (13-29, 0-18 Pac-12) registered five runs in the fifth and sixth innings to tie the game at 5-5 but the Golden Bears (28-18-1, 9-7-1 Pac-12) erupted for six runs in the top of the seventh inning to retake the lead, 11-5. Stanford loaded the bases in the bottom half of the seventh with one out but could not generate the runs needed to close the gap.
The Cardinal got hot late, registering seven of its nine hits over the final three innings. Kayla Bonstrom sparked the comeback with a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning. It is her third homer of the year and she finished the game 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a run.
Stanford put together its best offensive showing of the weekend in the bottom of the sixth, scoring three runs on four hits. Kaitlin Schaberg got Stanford going with a double to right-center field that Cal's defense had trouble handling, brining Victoria Molina all the way around from first.
Arden Pettit followed with an RBI-single to right to cut Cal's lead to 5-4. Pettit was brought home later in the inning on a sacrifice fly by Bonstrom to level the score at 5-5.
Highlights from Stanford's game against California.
The momentum seemed to shift the Cardinal's way but the Bears responded in the top of the seventh with six runs to put the game out of reach.
Carolyn Lee got the start in the circle and permitted five runs – three earned – on eight hits and three walks over 4.2 innings. She was relieved by Haley Snyder (7-11) who finished the final 2.1 innings, allowing six runs on six hits and two walks with two strikeouts.
Stanford will look to snap its losing streak when it makes its final road trip of the season next weekend to Arizona State.