Midweek SplitMidweek Split
Karen Ambrose Hickey/Stanford Athletics
Softball

Midweek Split

  • Game 1
  • Game 2
Box Score

STANFORD, Calif. - Hosting Sacramento State on Tuesday in a doubleheader, No. 24 Stanford (26-6) split the two midweek games, coming from behind to walk-off with an 8-7 victory in game one before falling, 5-2, in game two against the Hornets (18-17).

The Cardinal got on the board first in game one, scoring a run in the bottom of the second, but a three-run Sacramento State third gave the visiting team the advantage. The Cardinal reclaimed the lead at 4-3 behind three fourth-inning runs, including a pair of well-executed sacrifice flies.

The Hornets drew back even at four on a home run from Shea Graves in the fifth, but Stanford once again responded with two in the sixth to carry a 6-4 lead into the seventh. That cushion did not last, as the Cardinal surrendered three runs on three hits and an error, forcing a bottom of the seventh.

Refusing to surrender despite the late-inning blow, the Cardinal rallied for a pair of runs to walk-off with the victory. After Hannah Howell and Emily Young singled to get the inning going, freshman Emily Schultz contributed the game-tying single through the right side to plate pinch-runner Taylor Gindlesperger. Alyssa Horeczko followed by drawing a walk to load the bases with nobody out, and Kristina Inouye hit a sharp ground ball to third that was stopped on a dive, but not nearly in time to get an out, as Young sprinted home for the win.

Four Cardinal hitters finished with two hits in the victory, including Teaghan Cowles, Howell, Schultz and Inouye.

Sophomore Maddy Dwyer, who logged the final two-thirds of an inning, was credited with the win after Stanford came back in its final at bat. The right-hander improved to 9-3 with the victory. Jensen Main was saddled with the loss and moved to 0-7 after allowing four runs on six hits and two walks over the final 2.1 innings of work.

Sacramento State came out swinging in game two, scoring three runs on four hits and two Stanford errors in the first inning en route to opening up a 3-0 lead that it would not relinquish the rest of the way.

The Cardinal answered the first-inning runs with two of its own, including one on a Montana Dixon RBI-triple, but Stanford would not cash in on any further opportunities in the game. The Cardinal ultimately stranded 10 runners on base, including the bases loaded in the final frame.

Graves connected for her second homer of the day in the top of the seventh to provide extra insurance for left-hander Danielle Sperry. Sperry went the distance to pick up the win and move to 6-1, allowing just two runs on nine hits and two walks. Dwyer took the loss in game two for Stanford, allowing four runs (three earned) on nine hits and two walks with three strikeouts. The loss dropped Dwyer to 9-4 on the season.

Freshman Emily Klingaman went 3-for-4 in the setback, while Young was 2-for-4 with a double and a triple. Cowles continued her torrid pace, going 2-for-4 with a run scored while hitting out of the leadoff spot in the order.

Stanford will return to Pac-12 play on Friday, traveling to Oregon State to open a three-game series at 5 p.m.