A Strong Finish
STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford softball struck early and maintained its lead to defeat California Baptist 4-1, Sunday at Smith Family Stadium. The Cardinal closed out the Stanford Invitational with a 3-1 record and improved to 7-2 on the season.
Regan Krause was dominant in the circle, starting in back-to-back games. The freshman did not allow an earned run and only gave up a single hit and single walk, while striking out six. California Baptist (5-10) only got two batters on in the final six innings, as 58 of Krause's 80 pitches in the game were strikes.
The Lancers got on the board in the top of the first inning thanks to a Stanford throwing error against leadoff hitter Brittany Galvez, but Krause was able to strike out the next two batters to come within an out of escaping the inning. A standup double into right center from Abby Robertson would bat Galvez across the plate, giving the Lancers a 1-0 lead.
Stanford wasted no time overcoming the brief deficit. Taylor Gindlesperger and Emily Young got on base thanks to a single and a walk, setting up runners on first and second with one out. Gindlesperger advanced to second on a wild pitch, and when the throw from the plate to third went wide, the junior had plenty of time to cross the plate.
Young scored on a double down the left field line from Sydney Steele to give the Cardinal a 2-1 lead.
B2 | @EmilyKlingaman with the wheels!
She stretches a line drive into right field into a triple! Emily scores on the next at-bat thanks to a single from @Teaghan83466152! ??
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??1#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/wcakeJq35s— Stanford Softball (@StanfordSball) February 28, 2021
In the bottom of the second, Stanford extended its lead thanks in large part to a triple from Emily Klingaman. Klingaman scored on an RBI single from Teaghan Cowles, and Cowles scored on a sacrifice fly from Emily Schultz.
With a solid lead, the Cardinal defense locked in to not allow allow a runner past second for the remainder of the game. The Lancers only got one ball out of the infield – a fly out to center field in the top of the seventh.
Stanford will remain at home this upcoming week, hosting the DeMarini Invitational at Smith Family Stadium – with Nevada, BYU, UC Santa Barbara and Cal competing. The tournament will run from March 4-7.