Comeback CompleteComeback Complete
Glen Mitchell/Stanford Athletics
Softball

Comeback Complete

Box Score

STANFORD, Calif. – Taylor Gindlesperger sparked No. 6 Stanford's comeback with an RBI double in the sixth, leading the Cardinal to a 2-1 win over No. 9 Washington, Friday, at Boyd and Jill Smith Family Stadium.

The race for second in the Pac-12 standings is caught in a three-way tie with Stanford's win over Washington and Oregon's loss to Utah, putting all three teams at 14-8 in the conference.

Freshman NiJaree Canady (13-0) threw a complete game for the Cardinal (39-10, 14-8 Pac-12) , striking out nine Husky batters across seven innings of work. The freshman did not issue a walk or allow an earned run in her 23rd appearance of the season.
 


The teams remained scoreless through 5.0 innings. There was a 40 minute rain delay prior to the top of the fifth.

When play resumed, Washington struck first, scoring a run off a double by third baseman SilentRain Espinoza in the top of the sixth. 

The Cardinal answered in the home half of the inning as River Mahler hit a fielder's choice to get on base following a leadoff walk by Kaitlyn Lim. In the next at bat, Gindlesperger scorched a double through the left side to send Mahler home and even the score. Aly Kaneshiro then made contact with the first pitch thrown at her, grounding out to third base, allowing Gindlesperger to score the go-ahead run.
 


Stanford's defense went to work in the top of the seventh, preventing Washington from scoring to secure game one of the series.

The Cardinal will return to face the Huskies on Saturday at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.

GAME NOTES
» Stanford pitchers limited Washington to just 1-for-6 (.167) with runners in scoring position.
» Canady faced 29 Washington hitters in the game, allowing four ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out nine.
» Gindlesperger and Kaneshiro both went 1-for-3 with an RBI.