SEATTLE – Stanford jumped out to a 6-0 lead but could not stop the Washington offense, falling in the series finale Saturday 17-6 in five innings.
The Cardinal (16-22, 1-8 Pac-12) showcased its resiliency after dropping the first two games of the series by starting the finale with a commanding effort. Stanford registered six runs on eight hits through the first two innings to take a commanding lead.
Despite the offensive outburst by the Cardinal early, Stanford was unable to keep Washington’s (34-9, 6-5 Pac-12) bats quiet as the Huskies responded with 17 runs combined in the third and fourth innings.
Hanna Winter and Leah White led the Cardinal with two hits apiece, while six other Stanford players registered a hit each. Winter registered two hits in each game of the three-game series at Washington and has eight hits in the past four games.
Kayla Bonstrom produced two RBIs, and Tylyn Wells, Erin Ashby, Kaitlin Schaberg and Cassandra Roulund contributed a RBI apiece.
Kylie Sorenson got the start in the circle and was relieved by Tylyn Wells who took the loss to move to 0-4 this season. Sorenson and Wells – typically Stanford’s starting shortstop and leftfielder, respectively, but pitching due to injuries – combined to pitch every inning of the Washington series and did well to battle through a tough lineup and give the Cardinal an opportunity to succeed.
Stanford took an early lead for the second game in a row when Ashby delivered a RBI-single in the top of the first to put the Cardinal up 1-0.
Stanford exploded for five runs on four hits in the second inning to extend its lead to 6-0. After Wells was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, Bonstrom delivered a two-RBI single to right field to stretch the Cardinal’s lead to 4-0.
Schaberg brought in a run on a fielder’s choice and Roulund completed the scoring with a RBI-single to center field.
The Huskies responded in the bottom of the third with six runs to tie the game at 6-6, fueled by back-to-back home runs by Taylor Van Zee and Ali Aguilar.
Washington broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth inning with 11 runs on seven hits to take a commanding 17-6 lead.
Stanford continued to battle but could not manufacture the runs needed in the top of the fifth to close the gap.
The Cardinal looks to get back in the win column Tuesday when it travels to San Jose State at 6 p.m. (PT).