TUCSON, Ariz. - No. 7 Stanford rallied for four runs over the last two innings to complete a 4-3 comeback win over No. 17 Oregon on Thursday night in the quarterfinals of the inaugural Pac-12 Tournament.
Trailing twice and scoreless through five frames, Stanford (40-12, 14-10 Pac-12) delivered the game-winner when Taylor Gindlesperger's sacrifice bunt advanced River Mahler, who came around to score on a throwing error.
Thursday's win was yet another milestone in a season of many for the Cardinal, which produced its first 40-win campaign since 2012. Ranked No. 3 in the RPI and boasting the nation's No. 1 strength of schedule, Stanford also picked up its 10th victory over a top-25 opponent this season.
Kylie Chung's leadoff home run in the bottom of the seventh tied the game at 3-3 after Oregon had briefly moved in front in the top half.
Stanford, which collected its third win over Oregon this season after winning the regular season series in Eugene, was quiet early as the Ducks carried a 2-0 lead after a two-run homer in the second.
The Cardinal responded with a pair of clutch two-out hits in the sixth. Emily Young belted her second home run of the season before Emily Schultz came through with an RBI double that scored Kyra Chan.
Chung finished with two hits for Stanford, which became the fourth higher-seeded team to win on the tournament's opening day.
Alana Vawter was solid in the circle, shaking off the early deficit while allowing six hits and one walk in a complete-game effort that included three strikeouts.
Stanford next faces No. 2 UCLA on Friday in the semifinals, with first pitch slated for 7:30 p.m. on ESPN2.