STANFORD, Calif. – A three-run second inning was all Stanford softball needed to down rival California, 3-1 on Wednesday at Smith Family Stadium.
The win does not count toward the Pac-12 standings and will go down as a nonconference game.
Sydnee Huff took control at the plate and on the basepaths to lead the Cardinal (29-14) to victory. Her hit in the second inning dropped just out of reach of California's left fielder and rolled to the wall to bring Emily Young and Emily Schultz across the plate for a two-run lead.
Aggressive baserunning from Huff brought a third run across, as Teaghan Cowles hit a short chopper in the infield. The Bears (16-15) were not able to cover first in time for Cowles to reach safely, and Huff was able to charge home for another run.
The sophomore ended the day 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run.
Alana Vawter pitched a complete game to improve to 20-5 on the season – she becomes the first Cardinal pitcher to post 20 victories in a season since 2014 (Madi Schreyer). Vawter has not allowed an earned run since the fifth inning of the second game against Oregon, April 23, a streak of 39.1 consecutive innings.
The Cardinal will return to action this weekend at UCLA, May 7-9. All four games will be televised on the Pac-12 Network.