LOS ANGELES – Stanford loaded the bases in the top of the seventh, but No. 3 UCLA ended the Cardinal rally to take the series win with a 3-0 decision, Saturday, at Easton Family Stadium.
UCLA (34-2) scored one run in the third and tacked on two more in the sixth to improve to 9-2 in the Pac-12. Freshman pitcher Holly Azevedo improved to 12-0 after throwing 4.2 shutout innings against the Cardinal.
Stanford junior Carolyn Lee went the distance in the circle, finishing with a season-high six strikeouts.
Sophomore shortstop Kristina Inouye was 2-for-3 to lead the Cardinal, while first baseman Whitney Burks had the team's other hit. Senior Victoria Molina drew two of Stanford's four walks in the game.
Burks led off the top of the seventh with a walk. With just one out, catcher Arden Pettit reached on an error by UCLA third baseman Brianna Tuatalafua. Molina then drew her second walk of the night to load the bases.
However, center fielder Lauren Frost flew out to shallow left field for the second out and Teaghan Cowles flew out to right field to end the game.
The Cardinal and Bruins will play the series finale on Sunday at 12 p.m. at Easton Stadium.
