STANFORD, Calif. – Much like the first time Stanford and Oregon State faced each other this season, it was a tight game to open the Stanford Super Regional.
A three-run second inning for the Beavers (38-20) downed Stanford 3-1 in front of a standing-room only crowd of 1,127. The Cardinal (39-21) must now win on Saturday to force a winner-take-all game three on Sunday.
Oregon State led off the top of the second with a double down the left field line, and that runner scored on a single deep into the six-hole for a 1-0 lead with no outs. A home run from Madison Simon put the Beavers up 3-0.
Sydney Steele and Taylor Gindlesperger doubled for the Cardinal on the night, as Stanford managed five hits as a team – all from different players. Steele found the gap on a double that rolled to the wall to bat Emily Young across the plate for Stanford's lone run.
Despite the three-run inning, Alana Vawter settled in to hold the Beavers to three hits over the final five innings. Following the two-run home run, she retired the next five batters she faced and ended the night with a pair of strikeouts and induced 15 groundouts. Young added eight assists on the night.
Stanford continues the series on Saturday with first pitch at 3 p.m. on ESPNU