OKLAHOMA CITY — Alana Vawter and NiJaree Canady combined for a one-hitter, and No. 9 seed Stanford defeated No. 5 seed Alabama 2-0 in a Women’s College World Series elimination game Friday night.
The Cardinal pair outdueled Alabama’s Montana Fouts, one of the nation’s most accomplished pitchers.
Vawter allowed one hit in 5 1/3 innings. Canady, a freshman, stuck out three batters in 1 2/3 innings for the save.
“I think they’re exceptional off of each other,” Stanford coach Jessica Allister said. “I think AV’s dropball and changeup are as good as anyone’s in the country. I think NiJa’s riseball is as good as anyone’s in the country. When you have the opportunity to use both of those things, it’s foolish not to.”
Sydney Steele hit a solo homer in the seventh and knocked in both runs to help Stanford earn its first WCWS win since 2004. The Cardinal (46-14) will play another elimination game Sunday, facing the loser of Saturday’s matchup between third-seeded Florida State (56-9) and seventh-seeded Washington (44-13).