STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford softball split Saturday's action at the Stanford Invitational, opening the day with a 5-0 victory over California Baptist, before falling 5-3 to California in the evening game. The split moves the Cardinal to 6-2 on the season.
In the first game of the day, Taylor Gindlesperger batted in three runs off two hits to lead the Cardinal to a 5-0 victory over the Lancers (5-9). Gindlesperger singled into left field to bat Emily Klingaman and Montana Dixon across the plate in the bottom of the second for a 3-0 lead, and she came back in the fourth inning with an RBI double to put Stanford up 4-0.
Gindlesperger would score in that inning on an RBI single from Emily Schultz into right field.
Alana Vawter improved to 4-0 on the season against California Baptist. She came back after going the distance on Friday night to strike out six, to zero walks, in 6.0 innings of action. Senior Nikki Bauer closed out the game for Stanford, giving up only a hit in the top of the seventh for her first appearance on the year.
Errors would be costly for the Cardinal in the second game against Cal (4-2) on the weekend. Stanford's three errors proved to be the difference make in the 5-3 defeat.
The Cardinal threatened to rally in the top of the seventh, coming within two runs of tying the game on an inside the park home run from Gindlesperger. The junior dropped a shot just off the left field line, and the ball rolled past the outstretched hands of Cal's outfielder, who dove to try and corral the ball. Gindlesperger reached home well in time before the throw.
Cal took control of the game with five runs in the second and third inning. Two of Stanford's errors came in those innings as the Bears scored three unearned runs on the night.
Stanford will look to close out the weekend strong on Sunday with one game against California Baptist. First pitch will be at 11 a.m. at Boyd & Jill Smith Family Stadium, with the game being aired digitally on the Stanford Live Stream.