EUGENE, Ore. – A strong defensive effort was not enough for Stanford softball to overcome No. 4 Oregon in a 4-1 defeat at Jane Sanders Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Sophomore Alyssa Horeczko made several great defensive plays in left, junior Lauren Frost made an inning-ending diving catch in center in the fourth, and the Cardinal defense combined with sophomore starter Nikki Bauer to keep the game close throughout.
Stanford (22-22, 2-12 Pac-12) scored in the opening frame on back-to-back singles and an error. Sophomore Hannah Howell rocketed one up the middle for the first hit of the game, and then scored on a wild play. Whitney Burks hit one just a few feet in front of home plate and three Ducks emerged on it, but nobody covered first. Unaware of that, Oregon catcher Gwen Svekis threw to first and the ball went to the right field wall. Howell scored easily from for a 1-0 lead.
Cardinal causing chaos early!
— Stanford Softball (@StanfordSball) April 22, 2018
?? takes the lead over No. 4 Oregon ??#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/iDAa4LWLog
Oregon (37-7, 11-3) didn't trail long, a solo shot in the first tied the game, and an RBI single in the third gave the hosts a 2-1 edge. The Ducks added one in the fourth and one in the fifth.
Stanford got the first two runners on in the third and senior Arden Pettit led off with a single in the fourth, but double plays ended both threats. Pettit and Lauren Wegner singled to bring the tying run to the plate in the seventh, but a line drive to short ended the game.
Bauer allowed just two earned runs in six innings. Pettit was 2-for-3 with two singles, while Howell was 1-for-3 with a run. Howell has a hit in five straight games and seven of the last eight. She has 11 hits in that eight-game span.
Stanford and Oregon conclude the series on Sunday at noon PT. The Cardinal then returns home for a three-game series against Cal, beginning on Friday.
#GoStanford