Postseason NiJaree Canady

STANFORD, Calif. – The No. 8 Cardinal moved on to tomorrow's NCAA Stanford Regional final, thanks to a 2-1 win over No. 18 Mississippi State. Sophomore NiJaree Canady was dominant in the circle, finishing with only one run allowed on three hits in a 13-strikeout complete game.
 
Canady was cruising in the first two innings, retiring the first six batters with five strikeouts. The Cardinal got ahead in the bottom of the second, after freshman Jade Berry doubled to center to plate a run.
 
In the top of the third, Canady kept the strikeouts coming. The Topeka, Kans. product struck out two en route to another one-two-three inning. In her first run through the order, Canady retired all nine batters with seven strikeouts.
 
Stanford added another run in the third, thanks to another freshman with an extra base hit. This time it was Ava Gall crushing a solo homer to right field to make it 2-0.
 
Mississippi State broke Canady's run in the top of the fourth with a solo homer to cut the lead in half at 2-1.
 
The reigning Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year came back with three strikeouts in the fifth and sixth innings, allowing only one runner to reach base on a walk.
 
12 innings across two regional games, Canady has struck out 23 and allowed just one run and three hits.
 
Berry and Gall have looked strong in their first NCAA tournament, with Berry going 3-for-5 with three RBI, two doubles and two walks. Gall's two-game statline includes going 4-for-6 at the plate with three RBI and today's homer.
 
The Cardinal moves to 56-45 all time in NCAA tournament play, and can advance to Super Regionals for a third-straight year with a win tomorrow. Stanford will play either Mississippi State, Cal State Fullerton or Saint Mary's, dependent on this evening's games. Game one will be at 2:00 p.m. PT, and if the Cardinal wins there will be no game two. If Stanford falls in game one, game two will begin at 4:30 p.m. PT.