TEMPE, Ariz. – Stanford struck early and rode a dominant pitching performance to a 6-2 victory over No. 13/14 Arizona State, Friday night at Farrington Stadium.
The win was 10 years in the making, as the Cardinal (23-8, 4-3 Pac-12) had not defeated Arizona State at Farrington Stadium since 2011. The win snaps a 12-game losing streak to the Sun Devils, and is the first win over a top 15 team for the Cardinal since a 2-1 victory over No. 2 UCLA on May 3, 2019.
Teaghan Cowles scored in the first inning by capitalizing on three Arizona State (22-10, 4-6 Pac-12) miscues. Cowles reached base after being hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and scored on an error by the shortstop.
Stanford is 16-1 this season when scoring in the first inning, and it did not let up after the strong start, following up with a four-run second inning. Cowles, Eleni Spirakis and Aly Kaneshiro hit two-out singles to bat four runs across the plate, with Spirakis batting in two on her single up the middle. Stanford hit .500 with two outs (7-for-14) and .333 (6-of-18) with runners on base.
Spirakis added an insurance run on a solo home run to right field in the top of the fourth. The graduate student ended the night 2-for-4 with three RBI.
The Sun Devils scored in the second and third innings, but they only got one runner on base in the final four innings – a hit batter.
Arizona State's potent offense was held in check thanks to a dominant performance by Alana Vawter. The sophomore struck out seven and held the Sun Devils' first four hitters to go 1-for-11, picking up her first victory over a ranked team in the process.
This weekend's series will continue tomorrow with a split doubleheader – only the first game will count towards the Pac-12 standings. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. PT, with both matches being available to watch through the ASU Live Stream.
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