STANFORD, Calif. – Emily Schultz hit a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth, and Stanford softball hung on to open the Stanford Invitational with a 3-2 victory over California, Friday night at Smith Family Stadium.
The win does not count towards the Pac-12 standings.
The Cardinal (5-1) struck in first and second innings off a sacrifice fly from Eleni Spirakis and a solo home run from stating pitcher Alana Vawter, but it could not separate itself from the Bears. Vawter struck out 10 batters to zero walks in a complete game to improve to 3-0 on the season.
Schultz went 2-for-3 at the plate and Teaghan Cowles scored Stanford's first run.
California (2-2) scored in the top of the fourth on a single up the middle by Tatum Anzanado. Emily Schultz made an error at first base to extend the play, giving time for Candace Yingling to score rounding third.
In the top of the sixth, the Bears tied the game on an RBI single from Sona Halajian to put runners on second and third with no outs. A fly out to left field still give the Bears a chance to take their first lead of the night.
Stanford would use fundamental defense to escape the jam and keep a 2-2 tie. Anzanado reached on a fielder's choice to Vawter, and Amani Bradley found herself caught in a 1-2-5-1-6 rundown with Emily Young recording the putout. Young turned and chased Halajian in a rundown as the latter was retreating to second base, finally throwing the runner out to end the inning.
Run down!
— Stanford Softball (@StanfordSball) February 27, 2021
Cardinal gets two outs on a rundown to end the inning! Great heads up play by Young to go to second for the second out.
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Schultz hit her game-winning home run on a 1-1 count to lead off the bottom of the inning. The Cardinal again could not open up a substantial lead as the next three batters would be retired to end the frame.
Locked in a one-run battle in the top of the seventh Vawter struck out the first two batters and induced a lineout to Young at shortstop to end the game with the tying run at first.
Stanford will continue the Stanford Invitational with games against the Bears and California Baptist. The first game will start at 2:30 p.m., with the rematch against California coming at 5:30 p.m. Both games will be streamed through the Stanford Live Stream.