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The Stanford softball team maintain its current run production in support of an effective pitching staff in winning twice at the Tennessee Invitational on Friday.
Highlighted by a 10-run third inning, Stanford captured a 13-0 run-rule win over Toledo in the opener and followed that with a three-run sixth inning that broke a tie and led to a 7-2 win over the host Lady Vols.
The Cardinal (20-3) has won seven straight, 15 of its last 16, and 17 of its last 19 overall.
Emily Schultz had a big game against Toledo, driving in four runs on a pair of hits, including a home run. Freshman Kaitlyn Lim also homered, finishing 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBIs. Montana Dixon also homered, her third in the past six games.
Senior lead-off hitter Teaghan Cowles went 2-for-3 with a double, a triple, two runs scored and one RBI. The triple was the 20th of her career, extending her school record in the category.
Freshman Tatum Boyd tossed the first four scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and a walk to improve to 7-0 with the victory. Senior Nikki Bauer finished the game in the circle, striking out a pair.
The shutout was Stanford’s Pac-12-leading ninth of the season.
Stanford’s 10-run third inning was highlighted by a three-run homer from Schultz and a two-run shot from Lim.
Tennessee got on the board first in game two, plating a single run in the first inning. Stanford responded with two runs in the second, including one on a single from Dixon, to take a 2-1 lead.
After the Lady Vols drew even at two in the fifth, the Cardinal broke through with three runs in the sixth. Stanford loaded the bases with nobody out and needed a two-out, bases-clearing triple from Emily Young to take control.
The Cardinal added two insurance runs in the seventh on RBI-singles from Schultz and Sydney Steele, and Alana Vawter closed the door in the home half of the frame to seal the victory.
Vawter completed her fifth game, allowing two runs on six hits with six strikeouts to improve to 8-0.
Stanford plays East Tennessee State on Saturday morning to be followed by a second game to be determined by results.
Women’s tennis
No. 9 Stanford blanked No. 37 USC 7-0 on Friday in the Pac-12 opener for both teams at Taube Family Tennis Stadium.
Stanford (10-1, 1-0) recorded its sixth shutout of the season, capturing the doubles point and sweeping all six singles matches in straight sets.
Sacred Heart Prep grad Sara Choy’s 6-2, 6-1 victory at the No. 5 spot served as the clincher.
Winners of five straight, the Cardinal has won 68 of its last 71 matches at Taube Family Tennis Stadium.
Stanford has also won 38 straight regular-season conference matches dating to March 5, 2016, when it lost 4-3 at Arizona State.
The Cardinal turns its attention to No. 3 UCLA on Saturday at noon. Stanford’s only loss this season was a 4-0 decision to UCLA on Feb. 9 at the ITA National Team Indoor Championships.
Men’s swimming
Hank Poppe and Brennan Pastorek produced podium finishes in the 100-yard breaststroke, highlighting Stanford’s competition on Friday at the Pac-12 Championships.
Stanford slipped to fourth (385.5 points) after Friday’s action. California (576) now leads the field, followed by Arizona State (414) in second and Arizona (387) in third.
The Cardinal’s best event was the 100-yard breaststroke, where Poppe (52.33) placed second with the fourth-fastest time in the Pac-12 this season and Pastorek (52.37) finished third.
Three other swimmers delivered a top-eight finish: Benjamin Ho (46.42) took fifth in the 100-yard backstroke, Palo Alto grad Alex Liang (3:45.28) placed seventh in the 400-yard individual medley and Mason Gonzalez (1:35.84) was eighth in the 200-yard freestyle.
Women’s gymnastics
Stanford produced a season-high total despite falling 197.750-196.725 at No. 4 Utah on Friday night in front of a crowd of 15,558.
Competing in a frenzied environment and in front of its biggest crowd of the season, Stanford delivered its best effort across the board. The Cardinal totaled 49.000 or better in all four events and out-performed the Red Rocks on the floor, claiming the event title with a 49.375.
Four days after showcasing a career-high 9.975 on floor, Kyla Bryant dazzled again by winning the individual floor title at 9.950. Taylor Lawson (9.900), Morgan Hoang (9.875), Chloe Widner (9.850), Kelsey Cole (9.800) and Madison Brunette (9.750) completed the rotation.
On beam, Bryant equaled her career high at 9.925, good enough to finish in a tie for second.
Bryant also finished with a 39.550 in the all-around, besting Utah’s Cristal Isa at 39.525.
Grace Waguespack contributed a career-best 9.900 on bars, sharing the event title with Isa.
Widner’s 9.850 on vault represented the Cardinal’s top mark.
Stanford prepares for the Pac-12 Championships, which begin March 21.
Men’s volleyball
No. 13 Stanford came out hot but was unable to sustain it, dropping a 15-25, 25-14, 25-23, 25-23 match to visiting Lewis on Friday in Burnham Pavilion.
Stanford (6-10) hit .429 in the opening set and held the Flyers (14-4) to -.105 hitting.
Stanford junior opposite Jaylen Jasper finished with a match-high 18 kills and had four digs, two blocks and an ace. Freshman outside hitter Will Rottman added eight kills, seven digs, two blocks and two aces.
For the match, Lewis out hit Stanford .264 to .202. The Flyers held an 8.5 to 6.0 advantage in blocks and a 36-28 edge in digs while the Cardinal had a 9-7 lead in aces.
Freshman setter Nathan Lietzke tallied 34 assists, a career-high five kills and registered his first collegiate ace. Redshirt freshman libero Justin Lui had seven digs for the Cardinal.
Senior outside hitter Eric Beatty totaled four kills, three aces and five digs. Middle blockers Stephen Moye and Kyler Presho combined for six kills and five blocks.
Stanford and Lewis will meet again on Saturday at 6 p.m. in Burnham Pavilion.
Lacrosse
No. 25 Stanford fell to No. 8 USC 13-12 in a hard-fought matchup between the Pac-12 rivals, in which neither team ever had a lead of more than two goals.
“We did a lot of things well this game, although maybe it doesn’t feel like it right now,” said Cardinal coach Danielle Spencer. “I really believe in this team and where we are going. We will be OK as long as we stick together, stay confident and trust the process.”
Galen Lew and Daniella McMahon led the Cardinal with three goals each, while Jacie Lemos and Mikaela Watson each had two, and Ali Baiocco and Jay Browne had one apiece. Browne (2), Watson (2), Lew (1) and Katherine Gjertsen (1) each had assists. Kyra Pelton led the team with nine draw controls. Goalkeeper Trudie Grattan made seven saves.
The Cardinal held the advantage in shots (29-25), draw controls (17-10) and free-position shots (10-5).
By Palo Alto Online Sports/Stanford Athletics
By Palo Alto Online Sports/Stanford Athletics
By Palo Alto Online Sports/Stanford Athletics
By Palo Alto Online Sports/Stanford Athletics