STANFORD, Calif. - Senior Carolyn Lee dazzled, and junior Montana Dixon delivered all the run support the Cardinal would need, as Stanford (12-2) posted a 1-0 shutout win over #23 Northwestern (12-4) from Smith Family Stadium and the Stanford Invitational on Friday night.
Lee dealt six-plus innings, allowing just five hits and a walk while striking out three to collect the victory and move to 3-1 on the season. The shutout win was the second of the year for the Cardinal.
M2 » ?? 1, ?? 0@calee97 blows it by Danielle Williams to retire the side and strand a pair in the 2nd!#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/Q0MslrbWwB
— Stanford Softball (@StanfordSball) March 2, 2019
After being called back to the box for leaning into two pitches in the at bat, Dixon delivered a clutch two-out RBI-single into left field to put Stanford on the board in the first inning. The run went unearned on starter Danielle Williams as a dropped fly ball in shallow right allowed Kristina Inouye to reach and pushed Teaghan Cowles to second. Cowles, who led off the inning with a single, came around to score on the single from Dixon two plays later.
Here's all the offense the Card would need in Stanford's 1-0 shutout of #23 Northwestern! #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/Ul9w72vNGW
— Stanford Softball (@StanfordSball) March 2, 2019
Pitching opposite Lee, Williams was saddled with the tough-luck loss after allowing the unearned run on four hits and one walk with nine strikeouts. The left-hander went the distance, but fell to 9-2 following the decision.
Lee cruised through the first four innings, allowing just one hit and a walk while striking out two, but ran into trouble in the fifth after consecutive singles from Maeve Nelson and Lily Novak to start the inning. Williams followed by flying a ball deep down the line in left where Alyssa Horeczko made the catch, but the runner from second advanced to put runners at the corners with one out. A bunt single from Skyler Shellmyer loaded the bases on the ensuing play, but Lee escaped the jam unscathed by inducing a ground ball to Inouye at third who stepped on the bag and fired across the diamond for the inning-ending double play.
M5 » ?? 1, ?? 0
— Stanford Softball (@StanfordSball) March 2, 2019
A pitcher's best friend...especially when the bags are loaded.
5-3 double play ends the threat!#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/7BHkcWujdO
After surrendering a leadoff single to Morgan Newport in the seventh, Lee handed the ball over to Kiana Pancino out of the Cardinal bullpen. The right-hander, who entered the week ranked second in the nation in saves with three, converted her fourth of the year by retiring the final three batters in order to seal the shutout victory.
The Cardinal will now host Montana in the final game of Friday's portion of the Stanford Invitational at 7:40 p.m.