LOS ANGELES – Stanford's defense played well and Carolyn Lee contributed another outstanding outing in the circle but the Cardinal fell just short, dropping a 2-1 decision at No. 13/15 UCLA Monday night.
Stanford (13-20, 0-9 Pac-12) made multiple highlight defensive plays throughout the game to help Lee (6-12) complete her 11th complete game of the season. Lee held the Bruins' (25-11-1, 7-3-1 Pac-12) to two runs on seven hits and three walks with three strikeouts.
Among the quality defensive plays, Kylie Sorenson made two high-level plays at shortstop, first making a running over-the-shoulder catch in shallow left field in the second inning and then making a diving stop to her left to end the third inning. Sorenson also led the Cardinal at the plate, going 2-for-3.
Molly Fowkes contributed a highlight-worthy diving catch in the fifth inning on a hard-hit line drive that was falling in front of her. Fowkes dove forward and made the catch for the second out of the inning.
Highlights of Stanford's game at UCLA.
UCLA jumped out to an early 1-0 lead with its first three batters reaching base to generate a run. Lee did well to limit the damage and got some help from her defense to get out of the inning and keep the deficit minimal.
Snyder led off the top of the second inning with a double off the center field wall and was brought home to level the score at 1-1 when Kayla Bonstrom was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Kylie Sorenson contributed two of the night's defensive highlights with a terrific over the shoulder catch on a long run into shallow left field to get the first out in bottom half of the inning. She ended the third inning with a diving stop to her left and flip to the second baseman to get a force out.
UCLA broke the deadlock in the fifth inning and took a 2-1 lead when Delaney Spaulding hit an RBI-double to right-center field. The Bruins were threatening for more but the Cardinal played great defense, including a diving catch by Fowkes in left field, to end the inning.
Stanford continued to battle and generated a legitimate threat in the top of the seventh inning. Whitney Burks pinch-hit with one out and doubled to the right-center field gap. She moved to third on a ground out to second base by Bonstrom.
UCLA walked Sorenson to put runners on first and third with two outs but the Cardinal could not get the hit needed to even the score.
The Cardinal continues Pac-12 play at home next weekend when it plays host to Arizona beginning Friday at 5 p.m. (PT). All three games will be on the Pac-12 Networks.