EUGENE, Ore. – A winning formula of strong pitching and timely home runs powered Stanford softball to a 5-0, Sunday victory against No. 6/7 Oregon at Jane Sanders Stadium.
Alana Vawter paced the Cardinal (25-13, 5-7 Pac-12) with a three-hit shutout, while Eleni Spirakis and Montana Dixon homered to split the series with the sixth-ranked Ducks (30-10, 8-7 Pac-12). The last time Stanford shutout a top 10 opponent was a 6-0 victory over No. 7 Washington in 2017 (May 6).
After surrendering two hits in the bottom of the first, Vawter held the normally prolific Oregon offense in check the remainder of the game. She did not walk any batters – to six strikeouts – and surrendered a single hit over the final six innings. The Ducks went down in order in four different innings as Vawter improved to 16-5 on the year, going the distance for the 15th time.
E2 | @alanavawter gets her 3? strikeout of the day, and Oregon goes down in order ??
— Stanford Softball (@StanfordSball) April 25, 2021
Top of the order due up for Stanford.
??3, ??0#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/2ghDx0ECOJ
Stanford jumped to an early lead off a solo, two-out home run from Spirakis in the first inning – her second of the week. Montana Dixon pushed the lead to 3-0 on a two-run shot to centerfield in the third inning to continue the strong start. Spirakis again scored on a single to center field from Emily Young in the top of the fifth for her second run of the game.
Sydnee Huff and Teaghan Cowles doubled to left center to give the Cardinal four extra-base hits on the day.
In the top of the seventh, Taylor Gindlesperger took advantage of a defensive miscue by the Ducks for a stolen base and an unearned run. Noticing that Oregon's third baseman was playing far off the bag, Gindlesperger went to steal third. When the throw by the catcher went to an uncovered base and down the left field line, the junior ran for home to push the lead to 5-0.
M7 | Gindlesperger scores!
— Stanford Softball (@StanfordSball) April 25, 2021
Cardinal leads 5-0 entering the bottom of the seventh.#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/8jDwOBqrgv
The series split improved Stanford to 5-2 in its last seven meetings with the Ducks.
The Cardinal looks to build up a win streak this coming weekend with Oregon State making the trip to The Farm. The four-game series against the Beavers will run April 30 – May 2, with all four games being available through the Stanford Live Stream.