Stanford in Women’s College World Series semifinals after another close win

AP photo by Nate Billings / Stanford pitcher NiJaree Canady, left, and catcher Aly Kaneshiro celebrate as Washington's Jadelyn Allchin (42) leaves the field after a Women's College World Series elimination game Sunday in Okahoma City. Canaday pitched a one-hitter in a 1-0 victory for the Cardinal, who will face two-time reigning national champion Oklahoma in the semifinals Monday. AP photo by Nate Billings / Stanford pitcher NiJaree Canady, left, and catcher Aly Kaneshiro celebrate as Washington's Jadelyn Allchin (42) leaves the field after a Women's College World Series elimination game Sunday in Okahoma City. Canaday pitched a one-hitter in a 1-0 victory for the Cardinal, who will face two-time reigning national champion Oklahoma in the semifinals Monday.

By CLIFF BRUNT / The Associated Press June 4, 2023 3 min read

OKLAHOMA CITY — Stanford’s NiJaree Canady outlasted Washington’s Ruby Meylan in a battle of Pac-12 freshman pitchers Sunday afternoon to push the Cardinal into the national semifinals.

Canady threw a one-hitter, and No. 9 seed Stanford beat No. 7 Washington 1-0 in a Women’s College World Series elimination game.

Canady, selected as freshman of the year by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, struck out nine batters and didn’t allow a walk. She credited Stanford coach Jessica Allister for helping her stay relaxed, saying she “always talks about slowing the game down, especially in this atmosphere, just trying to slow the game down.”

“I try to take a lot of deep breaths and just throw each pitch the best I can,” Canady added.

Meylan gave up four hits, struck out five batters and walked one.