STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford softball run-ruled Santa Clara, 8-0, to close out its opening weekend of play, Sunday at Boyd & Jill Smith Family Stadium. The Cardinal scored eight unanswered runs in the fourth and fifth innings, while Alana Vawter pitched a two-hit shutout.
Vawter ended the day with five strikeouts on only 55 pitches, facing the minimum of 15 batters. Both of Santa Clara's (0-1) runners who got on base were thrown out trying to steal second by Montana Dixon.
Locked in a pitcher's duel through three innings, Stanford (4-0) broke free in the bottom of the fourth with a five-run inning, registering six hits in the frame. Emily Schultz opened the inning with a single up the middle on an 0-2 count, and a flyout from Vawter put runners on the corners with one out.
?????? had herself a day ??
— Stanford Softball (@StanfordSball) February 21, 2021
She faced the minimum of 15 batters in a two-hit shutout. Five strikeouts and only two batters allowed on base ??#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/RrHJAT71vy
Kristina Inouye provided the spark to break the deadlock, singling into shallow left field to bat in Schultz from third. Eleni Spirakis and Inouye scored on a Sydney Steele sacrifice fly and Teaghan Cowles single to give the Cardinal a 3-0 lead. Emily Young extended the lead to 5-0 on a two RBI single into left field.
Stanford closed out the game early, scoring three runs in the fifth inning to to end the game on a run rule. Kaitlyn Lim scored on a fielder's choice by Sydney Steele in the infield, and Hannah Matteson made it 7-0 on a RBI groundout by Kate Cressey.
Count 'em ??
— Stanford Softball (@StanfordSball) February 21, 2021
Emily Young hits a two RBI single to push the Stanford lead to 5-0! She advances to second on the throw ??#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/uXvHt5QvKq
Needing just one more run to end the game early, Taylor Gindlesperger hit a ball into the dirt with runner's on second and third. The Bronco third baseman went to barehand the ball, but couldn't make a play before Aly Kaneshiro crossed the plate for the game-winning run.
The Cardinal logged eight hits on the day, led by 2-for-3 efforts at the plate by Inouye and Young. Young and Steele also batted in a pair of runs.
Stanford will look to extend its start to the season to 5-0 on Tuesday in a rematch with the Broncos. First pitch at Santa Clara is set for 4 p.m. PT.