TUCSON, Ariz. - No. 7 Stanford dropped a 1-0 decision to No. 2 UCLA on Friday night in the semifinals of the inaugural Pac-12 Tournament.
Friday's matchup followed a similar script to the regular season series, with dominant pitching on both sides resulting in a fourth low-scoring affair.
Stanford (40-13, 14-10 Pac-12) matched UCLA (52-4, 21-3 Pac-12) for five innings, highlighted by another elite performance from NiJaree Canady, who allowed only three hits through five innings while striking out eight and walking only one.
An All-Pac-12 First Team selection as a freshman, Canady is the nation's leader in ERA and strikeouts per seven innings. Canady, who in 99.0 innings leads the Cardinal with 168 strikeouts while walking only 18, has also thrown two no-hitters. Canady's 18 strikeouts against Villanova on March 3 were the most since Missy Penna's school record of 19 back on March 23, 2009.
The Bruins finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth, when Savannah Pola's RBI single plated Maya Brady for the game's only run.
The Cardinal managed only two hits against UCLA starter Brooke Yanez, with River Mahler and Taylor Gindlesperger delivering leadoff singles in the first and seventh innings, respectively.
Yanez struck out six and did not issue a walk in completing the shutout.
Alana Vawter entered in relief of Canady in the sixth inning and took the loss.
Stanford finished 1-1 in its first Pac-12 Tournament, reaching Friday's semifinal after rallying for a 4-3 victory over No. 17 Oregon on Thursday in the quarterfinals.
The Cardinal will shift its attention to Sunday's NCAA Tournament selection show at 4 p.m. Ranked No. 3 in the RPI and boasting the nation's No. 1 strength of schedule, Stanford has produced its first 40-win campaign since 2012 and is expected to serve as a regional host next weekend.