STANFORD, Calif. – A grand slam from Kaitlyn Lim proved the difference in Stanford softball's 4-2, series opening victory over Utah, Friday at Boyd & Jill Smith Family Stadium. The win moves the Cardinal to .500 in Pac-12 play and 22-8 on the season.
With zeroes hanging on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second, the Cardinal loaded the bases with zero outs to put Utah (17-15, 1-3 Pac-12) on its heels. Caelan Koch and Chloe Doyle drew walks, and a single up the left side from Emily Schultz loaded the bases for Lim. She sent the second pitch of the at-bat into the trees past the center field fence for the game-deciding grand slam.
Lim's grand slam is the first of her career, and the first grand slam by a Stanford player since Sydney Steele's walk-off in the ninth inning against Fresno State on Feb. 18, 2020. The junior ended the night 1-for-3 with four RBI. Schultz was 2-for-3 with a double and a run.
The Utes pulled a pair of runs in the top of the third and the top of the sixth – both courtesy of Ellessa Bonstrom to make it a 4-2 game heading to the final frame.
Back-to-back singles from Utah put the go-ahead run at the plate with zero outs in the top of the seventh. Head coach Jessica Allister made the decision to turn the ball over to Regan Krause out of the bullpen.
Krause needed only five pitches to escape the game.
The sophomore struck out Haley Denning on three pitches for the first out of the inning, and Sophie Jacquez lined into a double play to end the game. Emily Young was able to make the grab on a shallow-hit ball, and she turned the play to Schultz at first base for the final out on the trail runner.
Krause picked up the save in the process – giving Stanford three different pitchers with saves this season.
The Cardinal look to clinch the series on Saturday, with first pitch at 2:05 p.m.