STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford softball made the right plays at the right time to hold on for a 1-0 win over Nevada, Friday at Smith Family Stadium.
Teaghan Cowles scored the deciding run on the night, crossing the plate on a sacrifice fly to centerfield from Emily Shultz. Cowles reached on a walk, and advanced to third on a single from Taylor Gindlesperger and walk from Emily Young. Stanford (9-2) has scored five runs on sacrifice flies this season.
Cowles was 2-for-3 on the night with a pair of singles and a run.
Guaranteed to see the top two hitters in the Wolf Pack lineup (9-6) during the top of the seventh, Regan Krause struck out the first batter and got the second out on a fielder's choice ground ball to Young at shortstop. A throwing error would extend the inning and put the leading run on second, but a ground ball hit back to Krause would end the game and preserve Stanford's win.
Krause struck out eight to three hits in a complete game shutout.
Nevada threatened to tie the game, if not take the lead, in the top of the fifth with two runners in scoring position. Kenzi Goins advanced runners to second and third on a groundout, and Nevada called in Ashley Salausa to pinch hit with two outs in a one-run game. With a full count, Salausa hit an arching blooper to shallow left field between Young and Sydney Steele. Young called ball and was able to track down the ball for out number three.
The Cardinal will play once tomorrow against BYU at 2 p.m. The entire DeMarini Invitational will be available to watch on the Stanford Live Stream.