BERKELEY, Calif. - Both teams managed an impressive comeback in a wild game on Sunday afternoon, but it was Stanford (21-4, 2-0 Pac-12) that got the last laugh after scoring four runs in the seventh to upend California (20-11, 1-4 Pac-12) by a score of 11-10 from Cal's Levine-Fricke Field.
The victory secures the Card's first Pac-12 series win since sweeping Cal from May 3-5, 2013.
The Cardinal scored six times in the first inning, but that lead was erased on two in the first and four in the fourth from Cal. After the two teams traded a run in the fifth to run the tally to seven apiece, the Bears scored three in the sixth to take a 10-7 lead into the final frame.
E1 » ?? 6, ?? 0
— Stanford Softball (@StanfordSball) March 24, 2019
?? days and ?? home runs for @_whitneyalexis!
Just like that, the Card is up 6? on @Pac12Network!#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/XRt2Z3uQY8
Stanford refused to lose the game, eventually scoring four runs, including the game-winner on a hustle play from Alyssa Horeczko, as she scored from first on a Teaghan Cowles base hit and an error. The error was the fourth charged to Cal in the game.
Senior Carolyn Lee collected her second win in as many games, dealing the final 2.2 innings to improve to 7-2 on the season.
The Cardinal scored the 11 runs on 12 hits, including three apiece from juniors Montana Dixon and Hannah Howell. Dixon went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI, while Howell was 3-for-4 with a run scored.
Senior Whitney Burks reached four times in the victory, drawing three walks and launching her second homer of the series – an opposite-field three-run shot to highlight the six-run first. Burks has now connected for five round-trippers on the season.
Stanford managed to chase Cal starter Alexandra Perez in the first inning as the lefty failed to record an out while allowing five runs on four hits. Despite pitching well in the middle innings, senior Zoe Conley was saddled with the loss for the second straight day, surrendering six runs (three earned) on eight hits and five walks. The loss dropped Conley to 6-7 on the season.
Lindsay Rood collected three hits in the loss for Cal, including driving in the tying runs in the bottom of the third. Karlee Sparacino was one of three Bear hitters to post two hits, going 2-for-4 with a run scored and three RBI.
Trailing 10-7 headed into the seventh, Stanford managed to load the bases with nobody out on singles from Dixon and Howell to bookend a walk to Burks. A walk to Emily Young forced in the first run of the inning before Emily Schultz lined a ball into centerfield for the first out. The throw to the plate on that play was on line, but Makena Smith dove to try to cut it off and deflected it up the third base line – allowing Burks to scamper home with the second run. After a close play at home cut down Howell and the potential tying run for the second out one play later, Cowles came up clutch, punching a single into right centerfield to tie the game. Centerfielder Amani Bradley had trouble picking up the ball and Horeczko, who began the play at first, never hesitated, spinning third and scoring the go-ahead run.
Down by 3?? in the top of the final inning? ??
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) March 24, 2019
Not a problem for @StanfordSball.
This gets the @OpusBank #12Best moment. pic.twitter.com/jfaZW1TlZp
Carrying all the momentum, Lee retired the side in order in the seventh to seal the series victory.
Stanford will look to sweep the Bears on Monday at 2 p.m.