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Maciek Gudrymowicz/ISIPhotos.com
Softball

Series Leveled

STANFORD, Calif. - No. 25 Stanford (29-7, 6-2 Pac-12) put two runs on the board in the first, fourth and sixth innings en route to earning a 6-3 win over Utah (14-25, 3-8 Pac-12) on Saturday afternoon to even a three-game series with the Utes.

The Cardinal came out hot in the first inning, as Kristina Inouye and Montana Dixon connected for back-to-back homers to hand Stanford the early 2-0 advantage. The round-trippers were the third of the season for each player, and they were the first back-to-back homers for the Card since Bessie Noll and Kayla Bonstrom launched a pair against Portland State on February 12, 2016.

Freshman Emily Schultz tacked on run number three for the Card in the fourth, lacing an RBI-triple into the gap in left-centerfield. The triple highlighted a 2-for-2 afternoon for Schultz, who now owns 12 extra-base hits over 21 total hits this year. Taylor Gindlesperger followed with an RBI of her own, shooting a single back up the box to extend the Cardinal lead to 4-0.

The sixth through nine batters in the Stanford order combined to go 6-for-10 on the day, with Schultz and Hannah Howell each contributing a pair of hits.

While the offense was looking strong early, sophomore starter Maddy Dwyer was also impressing, staying perfect through the first four innings. Alyssa Barerra broke up the perfect game with a single to start the fifth, and Hailey Hilburn erased the shutout one play later, launching her sixth homer of the season out to left field to cut the Stanford lead in half.

The Cardinal would get the two runs back in the sixth as Molly Fowkes contributed a pinch-hit RBI, and an error allowed a second run to come home on the play.

Junior Kiana Pancino, who took over for Dwyer following the homer from Hilburn in the fifth, surrendered Hilburn's second homer of the game in the seventh, but ultimately closed the door to record her seventh save of the season. Pancino logged the final 3.0 innings of work, allowing just the homer while striking out four. Dwyer, who also whiffed four, was credited with the win and moved to 11-4, while Ute starter Sydney Sanchez dropped to 6-7 after allowing four runs on six hits over the first 3.2 innings of work.

Stanford will look to win its fourth consecutive Pac-12 series of the year when the two teams decide the series at Noon on Sunday.