STANFORD, Calif. - All nine starters reached base safely to help No. 7 Stanford put nine runs on the board and take down the Oregon State Beavers, 9-1 in five innings, on Friday at Smith Family Stadium.
Senior Alana Vawter (12-1) earned the win in the circle for Stanford (25-3, 3-1). The right-hander went five innings, giving up just one run on six hits, allowing no walks and striking out two. Vawter leads the nation in walks allowed per seven innings at just 0.35, having only given out four free passes this season.
Vawter also contributed offensively with a home run, two walks and three RBI. Senior Emily Schultz turned in a standout effort as well, going 1-for-2 with a double, a walk and two RBI. Emily Young also had a stellar performance, going 2-for-2 at the plate while adding a walk and an RBI.
Round two against the Beavers is set for Saturday at 4 p.m. on Pac-12 Networks. Stanford's last series win over Oregon State came during the 2021 campaign.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Cardinal got on the board in the second inning as Vawter drew a bases-loaded walk, scoring Kaitlyn Lim, and an RBI single from Sydney Steele which plated Young.
The Beavers cut the lead to 2-1 with ahome run in the top of third, but the Cardinal responded in the bottom half of the frame, exploding for five runs, highlighted by a two-run double off the bat of Schultz.
After holding Oregon State scoreless in the top of the fourth, the Cardinal pushed its lead to 9-1 on a two-run homer to left field by Vawter - her first long ball of the year.
GAME NOTES
» Every Stanford starter reached base safely in the win.
» The Cardinal out-hit the Beavers at an 8-6 clip.
» Stanford went 4-for-9 (.444) with runners in scoring position.
» Vawter faced 20 Oregon State hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and four fly balls while striking out two.
» The Cardinal drew six walks from Oregon State.