STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford is moving onto the semifinals of the Pac-12 Tournament, after a 4-2 win over No. 19 California today. Sophomore NiJaree Canady kept the Bears' bats quiet, and sophomore Taryn Kern drove in the two runs that would prove to be the winners.
Cal took the lead in the top of the fourth, scoring on a sacrifice fly to go ahead 1-0.
The Bears' lead would be short lived, as the Card answered right back with a two-out rally in the bottom half of the frame. Senior Caelan Koch smoked a hard-hit ball to second base that resulted in an error, with senior Aly Kaneshiro scampering home from second to tie the game 1-1.
After sophomore River Mahler reached base on a bunt single, grad student Kaitlyn Lim drove in a run with another error to give Stanford the 2-1 lead. Then with runners of second and third and two outs, sophomore Taryn Kern singled up the middle to score two and make it a 4-1 Stanford lead.
Stanford finished the inning with four runs scored on two runs and two errors, with all four runs coming with two outs.
Cal added an unearned run in the fifth, making it a 4-2 final.
Canady ended the game with 10 strikeouts and two runs allowed, but neither were earned. The ace allowed just three hits in seven strong innings.
Stanford finishes 2024 4-0 against Cal, after a regular season sweep in Berkeley this March.
The Cardinal is back for the Pac-12 Tournament semifinal tomorrow, taking on Utah at 4:30 p.m. PT from Smith Family Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ESPN U. Stanford swept Utah at home this season, winning 5-3, 2-1 and 5-3 at home in March.
