FULLERTON, Calif. – Stanford softball topped Loyola Marymount, 4-0, and lost on a walk off to Michigan State, 4-2, to split a doubleheader on the final day of the Judi Garman Classic at Anderson Family Field on Saturday.
Whitney Burks hit a go-ahead two-run home run in the sixth to lift the Cardinal over the Lions, and scored the tying run in the nightcap, but Stanford left nine runners on base against the Spartans.
Five different players had at least three hits on Saturday, led by a 4-for-6 effort from outfielder Hannah Howell. Kiana Pancino (5-2) earned both decisions after throwing five scoreless innings against Loyola Marymount (7-9-1), and entering for 3.1 innings of relief in game two.
Stanford finished 3-1 at the Judi Garman Classic, which also included wins over Charlotte and Iowa, and improved to 13-8 on the season. The loss to Michigan State (9-6) ended Stanford's four-game winning streak.
Game 1Neither team got a runner past second in the first five innings. Pancino allowed just two hits and struck out one.
Burks broke the scoreless tie with two outs in the sixth. The Lions retired the first two Cardinal, but Montana Dixon was plunked to bring up Dixon. Burks worked a 2-2 count and fouled one off before launching one over the wall in left center.
Stanford doubled its lead in the seventh. Howell singled for the third time in as many at-bats, and scored on a single to center by Molly Fowkes. Back-to-back singles from Teaghan Cowles and Montana Dixon made it 4-0.
Freshman Maddy Dwyer earned her second save of the season with two scoreless innings. She did not allow a hit and struck out one.
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On-Base Streak: 1?4?
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Game 2Stanford had runners on in every inning except for the seventh.
The Cardinal, which was the road team for each game on Saturday, jumped out to an early lead in the first. With two outs and nobody on, Dixon singled and Burks walked. Kristina Inouye laced one to center to bring home Dixon.
Dwyer was perfect through three, but Michigan State took a brief 2-1 lead in the fourth. After a triple and a walk, the Spartans scored twice on back-to-back infield singles.
Stanford, which never trailed for more than a half inning during the tournament, responded right back. Burks led off the fifth with a line-drive double into the right centerfield gap. A bunt and ground out left Burks at third with two out. That's when Lauren Wegner ripped a game-tying single to left center.
Both teams got runners on in the sixth, but the score did not change until the seventh. There were two out and a runner on first when Kaitlyn Eveland lifted one over the fence in dead center to end the game.
Up NextOne more tournament remains before conference play. The Cardinal hosts Bakersfield and Wagner at Smith Family Stadium, Friday through Sunday. After a week off, Stanford will begin Pac-12 play at Utah, March 24-26.
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