BERKELEY, Calif. – Stanford softball dropped the opening game to California, 5-2, Thursday at Levine-Fricke Field. The loss moves the Cardinal to 26-11 on the season and 5-4 in Pac-12 play.
Heads up baserunning from Ellee Eck gave Stanford the lead in the top of the fourth for the first score of the game. An error by Acacia Anders at third allowed Aly Kaneshiro to reach first safely, and Eck reached third safely due to the error and was already rounding third before getting caught in a potential rundown. With the playing moving back to third base, Eck was forced to make a run for home – the sophomore was able to avoid the tag and slid in safely for the go-ahead run.
Stanford's lead was short-lived as the Bears (23-17, 5-8 Pac-12) responded with five runs in the bottom half of the inning for the lead. California logged five hits in the frame as all five runs came with two outs.
Sydnee Huff, who went 2-for-3 on the afternoon, started the Cardinal's rally attempt with a stand-up double in the top of the fifth and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Taylor Gindlesperger grounded out to second, but that drove in Huff to make it a 5-2 game.
The Cardinal looks to even the series on Friday. First pitch is at 2:05 p.m. on Pac-12 Bay Area.