Lead Image by Karen Ambrose Hickey/ISIPhotos.com
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Teaghan Cowles hit a two-RBI triple in the top of the eighth inning to propel Stanford to an 8-6 victory at Oregon State in the series finale Sunday afternoon.
It was the fourth hit in six at-bats for the freshman third baseman and a big moment for the Cardinal (18-24, 1-14 Pac-12), which earned its first conference victory since May 3, 2015.
With the game tied 6-6 in the top of the eighth inning, Hannah Howell was hit by a pitch with two outs and Kylie Sorenson followed with a single. That set the stage for Cowles who hammered a 1-0 pitch to the right-center field gap for a two-run triple.
It was Cowles' fourth triple of the season, tying her for the seventh-most in a single season in Stanford history.
T8 | TEAGHAN. COWLES.
— Stanford Softball (@StanfordSball) April 23, 2017
Two-RBI triple to the gap to give Stanford an 8-6 lead! #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/lJ0u7HonNL
Teaghan Cowles provided the game-winning hit on a two-RBI triple in the eighth inning.
Kiana Pancino (5-4) stole the show in the circle, holding Oregon State (24-19, 6-9 Pac-12) to three runs on five hits and one walk with two strikeouts in a season-high 7.1 innings of relief. The freshman pitcher permitted just one baserunner in the final four innings, retiring 12 of the Beavers' final 13 batters to seal the victory.
It was nearly a game of missed opportunities for the Cardinal, which loaded the bases in each of the first four innings and left the bases juiced in three of those innings. Stanford left 16 runners on base.
Stanford's inability to produce runs proved costly early on with the Beavers registering five runs in the first two innings.
Three of Oregon State's first four batters singled in the first inning to bring in two runs, and a bases-loaded walk brought in a third. The Beavers' Alysha Everett hit a two-run home run to left field in the second inning to extend Oregon State's lead to 5-0.
The Cardinal was able to break through in the third inning, rallying for six runs on four hits with the help of a pair of Oregon State errors. After Kristina Inouye led off with a double, Whitney Burks hit a towering two-run home run to right-center field to cut the deficit to 5-2.
Inouye had a big day offensively, going 4-for-6 with an RBI and a double. It was Burks' team-leading fifth home run of the year.
The Cardinal got some help from the Beavers' defense with two outs and the bases loaded. Sorenson hit a soft ground ball to first base that found its way through the fielder's legs and rolled into right field allowing two runs to score.
Cowles made the Beavers pay in the next at-bat, smashing an RBI-single to center field to level the score at 5-5. The Cardinal produced its first lead of the game, 6-5, when Inouye singled to third base to bring in another run.
Highlights from Stanford's series-finale victory at Oregon State. #GoStanford ?? pic.twitter.com/0N733n1kX6
— Stanford Softball (@StanfordSball) April 23, 2017
Highlights from Stanford's victory at Oregon State.
Stanford's defense continued its sound play, highlighted by catches made by centerfielder, Bessie Noll, and catcher, Arden Pettit. The duo provided the defensive plays of the game to register back-to-back outs in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Noll made a forward-diving catch on a hard-hit sinking line drive to center field for the first out of the inning.
Pettit made an equally impressive play when Oregon State's Lovie Lopez hit a high pop up behind home plate. The ball looked like it would hit the backstop netting but Pettit reached as high as she could and caught the ball before it made contact with the net for the second out of the inning.
Stanford will look to carry its momentum into next weekend when it plays host to No. 13 UCLA for a three game series beginning Friday at 6 p.m. (PT).