CORVALLIS, Ore. – Kylie Sorenson homered to lead a late comeback effort by Stanford that fell just short, as the Cardinal dropped a 4-3 decision against Oregon State on Saturday afternoon.
Stanford (17-24, 0-14 Pac-12) was ultimately undone by a three-run home run by Oregon State's, McKenna Arriola, in the bottom of the fifth inning.
With the score tied 1-1, the Beavers (24-18, 6-8 Pac-12) drew a pair of walks to lead off the fifth inning, Arriola connected on a 1-1 pitch that cleared the left field wall by inches to give Oregon State a 4-1 lead.
Stanford battled back, cutting into the Beavers' advantage in the following inning with a pair of runs on four hits. Sorenson homered to left field with one out to cut the deficit to, 4-2. It was Sorenson's second home run of the season.
After back-to-back singles by Teaghan Cowles and Kristina Inouye, Whitney Burks hit an RBI-single down the right-field line to close the gap to, 4-3.
.@kyliesorenson10 @kristina_inouye T6 | @_whitneyalexis delivers!
— Stanford Softball (@StanfordSball) April 22, 2017
Hits an RBI-single to cut Oregon State's lead to 4-3. #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/KP98C6qOSy
Whitney Burks brought Stanford within a run with an RBI-single in the sixth inning.
That would be all the Cardinal would get, however, leaving a pair of runners stranded to end the inning and leaving a runner on base in the seventh.
The game started as a pitching duel between Stanford's Carolyn Lee (8-15) and Oregon State's Taylor Cotton (10-4). Lee held the Beavers to one run on three hits through the first four innings, while Cotton limited Stanford to one run on two hits during that span.
Kayler Deter and Nikki Bauer pitched in relief and combined to hold Oregon State to one run on one hit and two walks.
Stanford did most of its offensive damage in the second and sixth innings, producing all of its hits and runs during those two frames.
Stanford jumped out to 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning on a Lauren Bertoy one-out double off the left field wall. The hit brought in Noll from second, who had walked to get on base then moved to second on a single by Burks earlier in the inning.
The Cardinal's defense continued to play well, highlighted by a couple tough plays by Sorenson at shortstop and Hannah Howell in left field.
Stanford will look to rebound against Oregon State in the series final on Sunday at noon (PT).