Stanford bounces back, blanks Alabama to advance in Women's College World Series

OKLAHOMA CITY - Alana Vawter and NiJaree Canady combined for a one-hit shutout as No. 9 Stanford blanked No. 5 Alabama 2-0 on Friday night in an elimination game at the Women's College World Series.

Sydney Steele supplied all the offense, delivering an RBI double in the second inning before belting a solo home run in the seventh for some breathing room. Steele, who finished 2-for-3 on Thursday, has hit two of her three home runs this season in NCAA play.

Making its third NCAA Women's College World Series appearance overall and first since 2004, Stanford (46-14, 14-10 Pac-12) remained alive in the draw and will play its next game on Sunday, June 4 at 12 p.m. PT. The Cardinal bounced back from a 2-0 loss to two-time defending NCAA champion Oklahoma on Thursday.

The Cardinal picked up its first victory at the Women's College World Series since a 3-2 triumph over Oklahoma on May 29, 2004 and improved to 5-5 all-time at the event.

Steele's 2-for-3 performance paced the offense but Stanford's superior pitching was once again the story, with Vawter and Canady teaming up for the Cardinal's 20th shutout of the season.

Vawter (21-8) was effective in 5.1 innings, allowing only a third-inning single while walking none and striking out five. Canady earned her fourth save in 1.2 innings of hitless relief, striking out three of the five batters she faced.

Stanford became the first team to hold Alabama (45-22, 14-10 SEC) scoreless this season. The Cardinal also continued its dominance of the recent series, having also posted two wins over the host Crimson Tide on the way to winning last year's Tuscaloosa Regional. Stanford's first of two wins versus Alabama in 2022 snapped a 44-game win streak for the hosts in the regional round, representing the first time the Crimson Tide failed to qualify for the Super Regional round.

Taylor Gindlesperger led off the game with a double while Emily Schultz and Emily Young accounted for Stanford's other two hits. Schultz singled to lead off the second inning, advanced on a sacrifice and scored on Steele's double.

Stanford is now 53-44 overall in NCAA Tournament competition.