NCAA softball: Stanford rips No. 16 Oregon, advances to Regional Final

Stanford’s softball team broke a pair of program records Saturday while steamrolling host Oregon 14-1 to advance to Sunday’s Eugene Regional Final.

The Cardinal (42-11) blasted a postseason school record four home runs – one each for Joie Economides, Allie Clements, River Mahler and Jade Berry – and pitchers Alyssa Houston, Zoe Prystajko and Kylie Chung held No. 16 Oregon to just one run on three hits.

Clements and Emily Jones each drove in three runs to help Stanford set a school record for most runs scored in a postseason game. Stanford’s nine-run uprising in the sixth inning led to the eight-run rule being imposed after Oregon went scoreless in the bottom of the inning.

Stanford will face the winner of Saturday night’s consolation bracket – either Oregon or Weber State – Sunday at 3:30 p.m., needing a win in two possible tries to clinch a berth in the Super Regionals. Should the Cardinal lose the first game, a second game would take place 35 minutes later to determine the regional champion.

Chung got the start in the circle, but gave way to Houston with two on and two out in the first. Houston recorded a strikeout to escape the inning. The sophomore finished with the victory, tossing 4.1 innings of two-hit, scoreless relief.

Meanwhile, Cal played faced Omaha in an elimination game in the Norman (Okla.) Regional late Saturday night. Cal held a 2-0 lead in the top of the fifth when the game was delayed at around 9:30 p.m. local time due to severe thunderstorms near Love’s Field.

The Bears (36-20) began the day with an 11-2 loss to No. 2 Oklahoma (47-7). Sooners star slugger Kasidi Pickering had a huge day, going 3 for 3 with two home runs and six RBIs.

Also, Santa Clara (32-21) saw its first ever NCAA Tournament berth end with a 9-4 loss to Grand Canyon on Saturday in a Tucson (Ariz.) Regional elimination game.