BERKELEY, Calif. - The No. 9 Cardinal topped No. 17 California for the second-straight day, winning 5-2 to move to 21-5 on the season and 2-0 in Pac-12 play.
The hosts struck quickly, scoring in the bottom of the first to go up 1-0. Stanford was able to answer immediately, thanks to junior Allie Clements' first career homer in the top of the second. The solo shot to right field tied the game at 1-1.
California scored again in the bottom of the third to retake the lead, but the Card was able to again answer. Senior Dani Hayes scampered home on a passed ball in the fourth inning to tie the game at two runs apiece.
The next inning, Stanford took the lead for the first time in the game. Senior Aly Kaneshiro earned an RBI fielder's choice to drive in sophomore Taryn Kern and make it a 3-2 game.
The Card added two more runs in the seventh, after graduate student Kaitlyn Lim crushed a solo homer to center to make it 4-2. Kern followed it up with a triple, scoring on the next pitch after a single by freshman Ava Gall.
Senior Regan Krause earned the win, throwing 4.2 innings with just two runs allowed to move to 8-1 on the season. Sophomore NiJaree Canady picked up her third save of the season, extending her scoreless inning streak to 22.1 innings.
The series finale starts at 2:00 p.m. PT tomorrow, capping the Cardinal's first weekend of Pac-12 play.