LOS ANGELES, Calif. – It was billed as a pitcher's duel, and Friday night's series opener lived up to that moniker.
Alana Vawter dueled Rachel Garcia for four innings in a 4-0 loss to second-ranked UCLA (35-3, 14-2) at Easton Stadium on Friday night. Vawter allowed two earned runs in 4.0 innings of work, as Stanford (29-15, 8-8) managed only three hits on the night – Taylor Gindlesperger, Sydnee Huff and Emily Schultz.
Despite the loss, the Cardinal leaned on several great defensive efforts to keep the game within reach and recover from a pair of errors. Montana Dixon caught a pair of runners stealing – to both Emily Young and Kristina Inouye – as the Bruins were held without a stolen base on the night.
Another defensive highlight for The Cardinal!@taylornicole25 turns on the jets to make the grab in center field, and immediately gets the ball back into the infield!#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/34qyG0cDZ5
— Stanford Softball (@StanfordSball) May 8, 2021
Stanford's outfielders cashed in on the party, with both Teaghan Cowles and Gindlesperger making great plays on the night. In the second inning, Cowles turned the play to Young at second to make Anna Vines pay for trying to stretch a single into a double.
Gindlesperger came up with the highlight of the night on a shot into the gap that would have gone for extra bases. The center fielder got the first step on the ball and was able to extend her glove for the line out, and she turned to get the ball back into the infield to hold both runners from advancing.
UCLA left nine runners on base, as the Cardinal escaped three bases-loaded jams on the night. An unassisted groundout to first in the third inning, a strikeout from Vawter in the fourth and a 543 double play in the fifth kept it a three-run ballgame during the middle innings.
FIRE US UP ???
— Stanford Softball (@StanfordSball) May 8, 2021
A 543 ???????????? ???????? ends the inning, and the Bruins leave the bases loaded again ??#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/vqCtWLDvxL
Down 4-0 in the top of the seventh, Stanford attempted a final two-out rally with Young and Schultz reaching base safely. Huff would strikeout to end the game.
The series will continue with a doubleheader on Saturday, with both games being televised on Pac-12 Network. First pitch from Easton Stadium is at 2 p.m. PT.