OKLAHOMA CITY - Fueled by another dominant outing from NiJaree Canady, No. 9 Stanford blanked No. 7 Washington 1-0 on Sunday afternoon in an elimination game at the Women's College World Series.
Stanford earned a berth in the national semifinals and will face two-time defending NCAA champion Oklahoma (58-1, 18-0 Big 12), which is riding a Division I record 50-game winning streak, on Monday at 9 a.m. PT.
The Cardinal would need to beat the Sooners twice on Monday (if necessary game scheduled for 11:30 a.m. PT) to book a spot in the championship series, which begins Wednesday night.
Already named the TUCCI/NFCA Freshman of the Year earlier this week, Canady has raised her game even higher in the NCAA Tournament, earning praise as arguably the best pitcher in the country overall.
The nation's leader in ERA and strikeouts per seven innings, Canady's latest gem was a one-hit shutout in which she walked none, struck out nine and never allowed a three-ball count.
Stanford (47-14, 14-10 Pac-12) scratched across the game's only run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Taylor Gindlesperger led off with her second single and, with two outs, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher. Kylie Chung followed with an RBI single to left, plating Gindlesperger for a 1-0 Cardinal lead.
That was more than enough for Canady (17-2), who tossed her eighth shutout and Stanford's 21st overall. Canady, who pitched her second shutout of the season against Washington (44-15, 16-8 Pac-12), has recorded 19 strikeouts over three appearances at the Women's College World Series, matching the freshman record established by Oklahoma's Montana Fouts back in 2019.
Ellee Eck's third-inning single accounted for Stanford's only other hit. The Cardinal also finished with four stolen bases, repeatedly putting pressure on the Husky defense with its aggressive baserunning.
Making its third NCAA Women's College World Series appearance overall and first since 2004, Stanford improved to 6-5 in school history at the event. The Cardinal has won two games in each of its three Women's College World Series appearances.
Stanford, which is now 54-44 all-time in NCAA Tournament competition, stands one victory shy of matching its most wins since a 48-11 finish in 2009.