TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Stanford earned a seventh-inning comeback victory against Jacksonville but could not overcome an early deficit against No. 11 Alabama, splitting a pair of games Saturday at the Easton Crimson Classic.
The Cardinal (12-7) entered the seventh inning against the Dolphins (11-7) down 4-3 but scored five runs to retake the lead, 8-4, and earn the win. Stanford surrendered three first-inning runs against the Crimson Tide (17-2) and could not generate the offense needed to close the gap.
Kiana Pancino (3-1) had an excellent day in the circle, pitching in both games and earning the victory against Jacksonville. She came in as relief in the first inning against Alabama and limited the Crimson Tide to one run on six hits and two walks with two strikeouts in 5.1 innings.
Stanford split a pair of games Saturday against Jacksonville and No. 11 Alabama. @kianapancino recapped the day. #GoStanford ?? pic.twitter.com/GtTzEGvty9
— Stanford Softball (@StanfordSball) March 4, 2017
Kiana Pancino pitched well in both games against Jacksonville and Alabama.
It was nearly a game of missed opportunities for the Cardinal against Jacksonville. Stanford left runners on base in all seven innings and did not cross the plate until the top of the fifth inning.
Teaghan Cowles led Stanford offensively, going 3-for-5 with a team-high three RBIs, a double and a triple. Lauren Bertoy had a big game offensively as well, hitting 3-for-3 with a double, a run and a walk.
Nikki Bauer (4-1) got the start against Jacksonville and held the Dolphins to three runs on six hits and one walk in 4.1 innings. Pancino entered the game in the fifth and allowed just one run on two hits and no walks with two strikeouts in 2.2 innings.
After two scoreless innings, Stanford's defense made a pair of quality plays to keep Jacksonville off the board in the third inning. With one out and runners on first and third, Jacksonville's runner on first stole second. Catcher Montana Dixon threw to second but her throw was cut short by Kylie Sorenson.
The Dolphins' runner on third ran home on the play but was thrown out by Sorenson for the second out of the inning.
With a runner on second and two outs, Jacksonville's batter singled to center field. The runner on second rounded third and headed for home. Bessie Noll fielded the ball and fired home in plenty of time to get the runner.
However, the Dolphins' runner retreated to third base. Dixon threw to Cowles at third who applied the tag for the third out of the inning.
Stanford loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the fourth inning but could not get the hit needed to break through.
The Cardinal faced another jam in the bottom of the fourth inning when Jacksonville loaded the bases with no outs. Bauer forced three straight popups to end the inning and keep the score, 0-0.
The Cardinal broke through in the top of the fifth inning. Haley Snyder hammered her first home run of the year to deep left field, a two-run shot to give Stanford the lead.
Kristina Inouye followed with a double and was eventually brought home on an RBI-single by Dixon.
Jacksonville loaded the bases for the second straight inning in the bottom of the fifth and made Stanford pay with a grand slam to take a 4-3 lead.
Down to its final three outs, Stanford rallied for five runs in the top of the seventh to retake the lead 8-4.
Dixon started the scoring barrage with a sacrifice fly to center to score Hannah Howell and level the score at, 4-4.
Stanford loaded the bases for Cowles who tripled down the left field line and give the Cardinal a 7-4 advantage.
Sorenson capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly to center to bring in Cowles and make the score, 8-4.
Jacksonville's leadoff batter singled to lead off the bottom of the seventh but Pancino retired the next three batters to secure the victory.
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Stanford's offense could not figure out Alabama pitcher Alexis Osorio (9-1), producing just one hit and three walks.
Stanford got two quick outs but ran into trouble in the bottom of the first inning. Lee walked the next three batters to load the bases. Alabama's Merris Schroder hit a triple off the left field wall to bring in all three runs.
Pancino entered the game and after a walk loaded the bases, she struck out the next batter to end the inning and limit the damage.
Horeczko provided Stanford's lone hit of the game in the top of the third with a one-out single to left. She extended her hitting streak to eight games in a row.
Stanford's defense made a pair of outstanding defensive plays in the bottom of the third inning. Alabama's leadoff batter hit a sharp ground ball to second base. Inouye dove to her left to catch the ball on a short-hop and fired to first for the out.
Horeczko made the defensive play of the game in the next at-bat on a deep fly ball to foul territory in left field. She ran full speed toward foul territory, made the catch near the warning track and crashed into an unpadded chain-link fence.
Horeczko stayed down briefly after the impact but remained in the game before being replaced in the fourth inning by Howell.
Alabama added a run to its lead in the bottom of the fifth inning with back-to-back two-out hits to make the score, 4-0.
Stanford could not generate the offense needed, managing just one baserunner in the final four innings.
The Cardinal concludes play at the Easton Crimson Classic on Sunday at 11 a.m. (PT) against Drake.