Stanford run-rules LSU, earns second straight trip to Oklahoma City

By
Brady Vernon
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Karen Hickey/Stanford Athletics

It appeared that the ball touched Kyra Chan, effectively ending Stanford’s fifth inning. However, the umpiring crew concluded that a play couldn’t be made and extended the frame. The Cardinal made the most of the opportunity.

Stanford scored seven runs in the fifth. Kaitlyn Lim’s solo shot ended the game in the sixth as the Cardinal beat LSU 8-0 to head back to Oklahoma City for the second consecutive season.

The Cardinal started the scoring via a fielder’s choice after River Mahler led off with a triple and beat the throw home on a grounder from Emily Jones. It appeared Stanford was going to run itself out of the inning as LSU’s Ciara Briggs and Raeleen Gutierrez made back-to-back plays to throw runners out at home.

Then Ava Gall ripped one through the right side, which started the controversial play with Chan. LSU simply couldn’t find the last out to stop the bleeding. Aly Kaneshiro and Caelan Koch each singled, knocking Sydney Berzon out of the game. Jade Berry blasted the first pitch from Raelin Chaffin for a three-run homer to cap the frame.

NiJaree Canady pitched another shutout, this time relying on her defense with only three strikeouts. There was no bigger play than the one in the top of the fifth. Chan caught a bases-loaded flyball and fired it into Kaneshiro, who made a great catch and dive for the inning-ending double play.

Canady and the Cardinal will face top-seeded Texas, a team they beat in Austin earlier this season, on Thursday in Oklahoma City.

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Brady Vernon

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