FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Stanford softball took advantage of six Manhattan errors to win its first of two elimination games at the NCAA Fayetteville Regional, Saturday at Bogle Park.
Kaitlyn Lim and Emily Schultz each scored twice as the Cardinal batted in nine runs in the 11-2 victory over the Jaspers (22-16). Stanford (32-21) again rode a dominant outing from Maddy Dwyer in the circle to survive the elimination game. The senior retired the first nine batters and spaced out five hits for the complete-game win.
Dwyer struck out four in the game and improves to 4-1 on the year. She also made a diving catch in the bottom of the seventh that deserves a spot on Sports Center's Top 10 plays segment.
PITCHER PLAYS ?? @maddy__dwyer#RoadToWCWS x ?? @StanfordSball pic.twitter.com/IDkUWomh7H
— NCAA Softball (@NCAAsoftball) May 22, 2021
The Cardinal struck in the top of the second, with heads-up base running from Emily Schultz and Sydnee Huff. The latter singled into left field to put two runners on, but a Manhattan error getting the ball back in the infield gave the two an opening to advance into scoring position. Huff and Schultz scored on the next play, thanks again to an error by the Jaspers.
Kristina Inouye doubled to the wall to bring Montana Dixon around the play for the game-winning run.
Runs in the fifth and sixth pushed Stanford to a 6-0 victory entering the bottom of the sixth. Manhattan opened the bottom half of the inning with three-straight singles to plate two runs. The Cardinal defense recovered to force three-straight outs and hold a four-run lead entering the final frame.
???? ?????? ???????? ??@kristina_inouye brings @Montanamariee12 around from second on a RBI double!
— Stanford Softball (@StanfordSball) May 22, 2021
M2 | ??3, ??0#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/4BaTmpNLc3
Stanford posted a five-run inning in the top of the seventh to cement its lead. Teaghan Cowles doubled into right-center with the bases loaded to bring three runs in, with Kate Cressey capitalizing on a Manhattan error.
The Cardinal go back-to-back against South Dakota State in the final elimination game of the day. If Stanford avenges Friday's loss to the Jackrabbits, it will advance to a regional final for the first time since 2013.