STANFORD, Calif. - No. 8 Stanford's late comeback attempt fell short in a 3-2 loss to California on Saturday at Boyd and Jill Smith Family Stadium.
Saturday's setback was rare for Stanford (33-10, 9-8 Pac-12), which was beaten at home for the first time this season after opening 17-0 on The Farm.
Trailing 3-0 entering the sixth inning, the Cardinal scored a pair of runs late but was unable to complete the rally.
Aly Kaneshiro's solo home run in the sixth inning - her fifth of the season - cut the deficit to 3-1.
In the seventh, Taylor Gindlesperger's two-out RBI double plated Sydney Steele and made it 3-2 but the Cardinal could not push the tying run across.
Alana Vawter (15-6) started and took the loss, allowing six hits and three runs in four innings while striking out four. Regan Krause came out of the bullpen and threw three shutout innings, allowing two hits, with two walks and two strikeouts.
California's scoring came in the first four innings, highlighted by a two-run homer in the fourth. Anna Reimers' complete game effort included six hits allowed and two strikeouts.
Stanford is back to take on California on Sunday at 2 p.m. to decide the winner of the Pac-12 series.