STANFORD, Calif. – Late game dramatics are a theme for the Stanford softball team this weekend.
The Cardinal (27-14, 7-7 Pac-12) played its longest game since April 8, 2011, to open Saturday's doubleheader, with Taylor Gindlesperger providing the walk-off single in the bottom of the 13th inning for the 4-3 victory.
With the win, Stanford clinched this weekend's series – its first series victory over Oregon State since 2013 (the Cardinal claimed the first meeting of the 2019 series, but the second and third games of the weekend were canceled due to rain).
In the second game of the doubleheader, which does not count towards the Pac-12 standings, Stanford rallied from a 4-0 deficit to put the tying run at the plate twice in the bottom of the seventh. The Cardinal were unable to complete the comeback in the 6-3 loss.
First Game Recap
Emily Schultz led off the frame with a pinch-hit single into left field to start the Stanford rally. Sydnee Huff returned to the lineup to run for Schultz, advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt from Kristina Inouye and a groundout from Teaghan Cowles. Huff easily scored from third off Gindlesperger's single.
Oregon State (16-22, 3-14 Pac-12) drove the game to extra innings on a two-out home run in the top of the seventh to tie the game at 3-3. The Cardinal went to the bullpen to bring on Alana Vawter, with the sophomore pitching 6.1 shutout innings in relief to pick up her 18th victory of the year. Vawter spaced out five hits and a walk as the Beavers stranded four runners in scoring position during extra innings.
Stanford took an early, 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first off RBI hits from Aly Kaneshiro and Emily Young. Kaneshiro batted Gindlesperger in off a single to the pitcher, while Young doubled to left center for a pair of runs.
Second Game Recap
In the second game of the day, Oregon State took a 4-0 lead in the top of the first, logging five hits in the frame. The first three batters reached safely for Stanford in the bottom half, with Taylor Gindlesperger tying the national lead with her seventh triple of the year. Both Gindlesperger and Cowles scored to cut the deficit in half, 4-2.
A double from Aly Kaneshiro in the bottom of the seventh – Stanford's fifth of the game – put two runners in scoring position and brought the tying run to the plate. A fielder's choice to put out the lead runner, and a double play would end the Cardinal's comeback bid in the nonconference game.
Despite the defeat, Stanford received a strong relief appearance from Tatum Boyd – her first since March 11. Boyd held Oregon State to a 2-for-18 showing at the plate in 5.0 innings of action. The sophomore struck out three, giving up only two hits and zero walks.
The Cardinal looks to conclude the series tomorrow at noon, with the opportunity to sweep the conference series still on the table. The single game will be available to watch through the Stanford Live Stream.