TEMPE, Ariz. – A .571 day at the plate for Teaghan Cowles ultimately didn't prove fruitful enough Saturday as the Cardinal fell in back-to-back heartbreaking losses against Fresno State and CSUN.
The first game of the day pitted the Cardinal (1-4) against Fresno State (1-1) in what would prove to be a defensive battle.
Maddy Dwyer stepped up to keep the Bulldogs at bay with the Cardinal defense being highlighted in the fourth inning as Alyssa Horeczko and Montana Dixon combined for an incredible play at the plate that kept the game scoreless.
GOT HER. ??
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) February 10, 2018
T5: @StanfordSball and Fresno State are knotted at 0-0. #Pac12SB
Watch on the app: https://t.co/ZhZuI5ezsa #Pac12SB pic.twitter.com/gjFFKheJDM
The rookie hurler put in a gritty seven innings, but the Stanford offense wasn't able to support the effort as the game went to extra innings. Fresno State needed only one batter to finally claim the lead as Vanessa Hernandez launched a two-run shot due to the international tiebreak rule that places a runner on second.
The Cardinal was able to get two runners on in the bottom of the inning, but the opportunity was squandered as the Bulldogs claimed the 2-0 (8) win to open the day.
CSUN awaited next with the Matadors chasing starter Carolyn Lee from the game in the second inning to bring in Kiana Pancino, who kept CSUN at six runs until the fifth inning.
The Cardinal offense awoke in the game, putting eight runs on the board through the first four innings with long balls from Kristina Inouye and Lauren Wegner to grab an 8-6 lead.
The Matadors weren't finished though as they posted solo home runs in the fifth and sixth to tie it before finally finishing the game in the seventh after a lead-off walk proved costly as an RBI single up the middle closed the game with a 9-8 score.
Stanford will close out the Kajikawa Classic tomorrow as it sets to face Boise State at 1 p.m. PT in Tempe, Ariz.