[d4cohn]

A terrible call from the umps costs Stanford again. Runner interference gives the Utes the final out and a 2-1 victory. The ESPNU broadcast crew talks about the runner making contact with the shortstop Passi, but the replay clearly showed Passi initiated the contact, and the runner even made an attempt to get out of the way. What is the runner supposed to do? If she runs out of the basepath, she is called out for that. Utah looking for a call, and they get it.

We are, I feel, in a similar situation as last year: we have, IMO, done enough to earn a top 8 seed. But I wouldn't be surprised if Stanford gets the #9 seed and sent to an SEC team if both hosts advance out of regionals.

[d4cohn]

A terrible call from the umps costs Stanford again. Runner interference gives the Utes the final out and a 2-1 victory. The ESPNU broadcast crew talks about the runner making contact with the shortstop Passi, but the replay clearly showed Passi initiated the contact, and the runner even made an attempt to get out of the way. What is the runner supposed to do? If she runs out of the basepath, she is called out for that. Utah looking for a call, and they get it.

We are, I feel, in a similar situation as last year: we have, IMO, done enough to earn a top 8 seed. But I wouldn't be surprised if Stanford gets the #9 seed and sent to an SEC team if both hosts advance out of regionals.

[BobK]

Sadly we stopped hitting. Since the ucla games we have struggled hitting.
They did review the play. Sad way to end.
But we host next week for the NCAAs

[BobK]

Sadly we stopped hitting. Since the ucla games we have struggled hitting.
They did review the play. Sad way to end.
But we host next week for the NCAAs

[GK3]

Sadly we stopped hitting.  Since the ucla games we have struggled hitting. 
They did review the play. Sad way to end.
But we host next week for the NCAAs

I was amazed they didn't over turn the decision, it seemed so obvious. I wonder what the hitting issue is? The gostanford website shows us having no HR for some time. Is that correct? Seems wrong to me. If it is correct, then it would be a marker we need to pay attention to, as in Why?

[GK3]

Sadly we stopped hitting.  Since the ucla games we have struggled hitting. 
They did review the play. Sad way to end.
But we host next week for the NCAAs

I was amazed they didn't over turn the decision, it seemed so obvious. I wonder what the hitting issue is? The gostanford website shows us having no HR for some time. Is that correct? Seems wrong to me. If it is correct, then it would be a marker we need to pay attention to, as in Why?

[Hieronymus]

Sadly we stopped hitting.  Since the ucla games we have struggled hitting. 
They did review the play. Sad way to end.
But we host next week for the NCAAs

I was amazed they didn't over turn the decision, it seemed so obvious. I wonder what the hitting issue is?  The gostanford website shows us having no HR for some time.  Is that correct? Seems wrong to me.  If it is correct, then it would be a marker we need to pay attention to, as in Why?

I can’t remember the last home run. So been awhile seems right. As noted above, the hitting has vanished since UCLA. Kern some and really nothing else.

[Hieronymus]

Sadly we stopped hitting.  Since the ucla games we have struggled hitting. 
They did review the play. Sad way to end.
But we host next week for the NCAAs

I was amazed they didn't over turn the decision, it seemed so obvious. I wonder what the hitting issue is?  The gostanford website shows us having no HR for some time.  Is that correct? Seems wrong to me.  If it is correct, then it would be a marker we need to pay attention to, as in Why?

I can’t remember the last home run. So been awhile seems right. As noted above, the hitting has vanished since UCLA. Kern some and really nothing else.

[BobK]

Ucla a 6th seed. More coming

---

8 Stanford is 8 seed

[BobK]

Ucla a 6th seed. More coming

---

8 Stanford is 8 seed

[d4cohn]

Ucla a 6th seed.  More coming

---

8 Stanford is 8 seed

Absolutely massive result for Stanford softball, but they have solid teams in their regional. Mississippi State is the #2 seed in the regional, Cal State Fullerton is #3 seed, and Saint Mary's #4 seed. No surprise on Fullerton and Saint Mary's traveling to Stanford, but MSU is a bit of a surprise (Kentucky or Auburn was the projected #2 seed in our regional).

The #9 overall seed will be interesting; I think it will be one of Duke, LSU or Georgia.

---

LSU get the #9 overall seed; Cal is also headed to Baton Rouge.

[d4cohn]

Ucla a 6th seed.  More coming

---

8 Stanford is 8 seed

Absolutely massive result for Stanford softball, but they have solid teams in their regional. Mississippi State is the #2 seed in the regional, Cal State Fullerton is #3 seed, and Saint Mary's #4 seed. No surprise on Fullerton and Saint Mary's traveling to Stanford, but MSU is a bit of a surprise (Kentucky or Auburn was the projected #2 seed in our regional).

The #9 overall seed will be interesting; I think it will be one of Duke, LSU or Georgia.

---

LSU get the #9 overall seed; Cal is also headed to Baton Rouge.

[Spiny_Norman]

Seems like Stanford got a lot of mileage out of its early season wins over Texas and Tennessee, the overall 1 and 3 seeds.

There are 13 SEC schools that play softball (Vandy does not have a team). All 13 are in the NCAAs. 8 of them are hosting regionals. If you want to get to the CWS, you are probably going to have to go through an SEC (or future SEC) team.

[Spiny_Norman]

Seems like Stanford got a lot of mileage out of its early season wins over Texas and Tennessee, the overall 1 and 3 seeds.

There are 13 SEC schools that play softball (Vandy does not have a team). All 13 are in the NCAAs. 8 of them are hosting regionals. If you want to get to the CWS, you are probably going to have to go through an SEC (or future SEC) team.

[Blue Hawk (Mizzou) Card]

 If you want to get to the CWS, you are probably going to have to go through an SEC (or future SEC) team.

Or, in some cases (like Stanford) two SEC teams. Which is fine. We've done pretty well against the SEC this year (though the memory of losing a Super Regional to LSU still haunts our household, as that was after the Regional win at Columbia, MO, that Mini and I broadcast for KZSU, iirc, so that cancelled our hoped for trip to OKC).

[Blue Hawk (Mizzou) Card]

 If you want to get to the CWS, you are probably going to have to go through an SEC (or future SEC) team.

Or, in some cases (like Stanford) two SEC teams. Which is fine. We've done pretty well against the SEC this year (though the memory of losing a Super Regional to LSU still haunts our household, as that was after the Regional win at Columbia, MO, that Mini and I broadcast for KZSU, iirc, so that cancelled our hoped for trip to OKC).

[d4cohn]

Some initial scouting on the other teams in our regional, which are Mississippi State, Cal State Fullerton, and Saint Mary's. 

Mississippi State has a bit power on its lineup, led by star fifth year Madisyn Kennedy, who has 17 homeruns and an .830 slugging percentage. Mississippi State, similar to us, have two pitchers that have thrown the vast majority of the innings this year. In comparing their team ERA (3.03) to WHIP ratio (walks + hits per inning; 1.12) and allowed Batting average (.227), it seems like their pitchers have been a bit unlucky and given up more runs than I might otherwise expect.

I still think there is a marked advantage for Stanford between our staff and MSU's staff if both staffs perform to their abilities.

Cal State Fullerton steals a ton of bases (100+ steals as a team, which is unbelievable, led by star senior Megan Delgadillo who has 38 steals by herself) and are very dangerous when they get runners on. They already have a run rule win over #3 national seed Tennessee this year, and narrowly lost 4-2 against Mississippi State, so this team can compete.

Saint Mary's battled against Stanford in a non-conference in Moraga earlier this year, but the Cardinal comfortably won the matchup 9-4. 

Stanford starts NCAA regional play at 7pm PT on ESPN2 against Saint Mary's on Friday night.

[d4cohn]

Some initial scouting on the other teams in our regional, which are Mississippi State, Cal State Fullerton, and Saint Mary's. 

Mississippi State has a bit power on its lineup, led by star fifth year Madisyn Kennedy, who has 17 homeruns and an .830 slugging percentage. Mississippi State, similar to us, have two pitchers that have thrown the vast majority of the innings this year. In comparing their team ERA (3.03) to WHIP ratio (walks + hits per inning; 1.12) and allowed Batting average (.227), it seems like their pitchers have been a bit unlucky and given up more runs than I might otherwise expect.

I still think there is a marked advantage for Stanford between our staff and MSU's staff if both staffs perform to their abilities.

Cal State Fullerton steals a ton of bases (100+ steals as a team, which is unbelievable, led by star senior Megan Delgadillo who has 38 steals by herself) and are very dangerous when they get runners on. They already have a run rule win over #3 national seed Tennessee this year, and narrowly lost 4-2 against Mississippi State, so this team can compete.

Saint Mary's battled against Stanford in a non-conference in Moraga earlier this year, but the Cardinal comfortably won the matchup 9-4. 

Stanford starts NCAA regional play at 7pm PT on ESPN2 against Saint Mary's on Friday night.

[Maple Leaf]

Exposure, popularity and stars. Is college softball on the brink of a breakthrough? - The Athletic (nytimes.com)

PALO ALTO, Calif. — On a steamy Thursday afternoon at Stanford’s Smith Family Stadium, every Cardinal player and coach not on the field stands against the dugout rail, shouting encouragement at someone. Including, between every pitch, a chorus of “Yeah, NiJa!”

NiJa is Stanford pitcher NiJaree Canady, a 6-foot sophomore, who finds herself in a bind against rival Cal.

Extensive article on the growth of Women's College Softball with strong focus on Nija.

[Maple Leaf]

Exposure, popularity and stars. Is college softball on the brink of a breakthrough? - The Athletic (nytimes.com)

PALO ALTO, Calif. — On a steamy Thursday afternoon at Stanford’s Smith Family Stadium, every Cardinal player and coach not on the field stands against the dugout rail, shouting encouragement at someone. Including, between every pitch, a chorus of “Yeah, NiJa!”

NiJa is Stanford pitcher NiJaree Canady, a 6-foot sophomore, who finds herself in a bind against rival Cal.

Extensive article on the growth of Women's College Softball with strong focus on Nija.

[Hieronymus]

Krause has to get pulled ASAP.

---

Currently still 7-4 

Nope 7-6 now. Stanford.

Krause unglued. 

Major fielding error forgetting where the runners were.

---

For reference it was 7-0 after 2 when Krause came on.

---

Canady back in. 

Our hitting has evaporated.

It will be interesting who starts next game. Probably can’t be Canady now, but not sure you can start Krause after 2 long, disastrous innings.

[Hieronymus]

Krause has to get pulled ASAP.

---

Currently still 7-4 

Nope 7-6 now. Stanford.

Krause unglued. 

Major fielding error forgetting where the runners were.

---

For reference it was 7-0 after 2 when Krause came on.

---

Canady back in. 

Our hitting has evaporated.

It will be interesting who starts next game. Probably can’t be Canady now, but not sure you can start Krause after 2 long, disastrous innings.

[d4cohn]

Canady stabilizing the pitching, as Jade Berry brings in a clutch 8th run in the bottom of the fourth. 8-6 Cardinal T5.

[d4cohn]

Canady stabilizing the pitching, as Jade Berry brings in a clutch 8th run in the bottom of the fourth. 8-6 Cardinal T5.

[Hieronymus]

Canady stabilizing the pitching, as Jade Berry brings in a clutch 8th run in the bottom of the fourth. 8-6 Cardinal T5.

She is like flipping a light switch off.

[Hieronymus]

Canady stabilizing the pitching, as Jade Berry brings in a clutch 8th run in the bottom of the fourth. 8-6 Cardinal T5.

She is like flipping a light switch off.

[Hieronymus]

Stanford wins and avoids a disaster in their first game. Canady was brilliant and very efficient. Kern had a couple of great defensive plays. 

It will be very interesting how they use the pitchers tomorrow after Canady goes 2, rests 2, and then pitched the final 3.

[Hieronymus]

Stanford wins and avoids a disaster in their first game. Canady was brilliant and very efficient. Kern had a couple of great defensive plays. 

It will be very interesting how they use the pitchers tomorrow after Canady goes 2, rests 2, and then pitched the final 3.

[d4cohn]

Stanford wins and avoids a disaster in their first game. Canady was brilliant and very efficient. Kern had a couple of great defensive plays. 

It will be very interesting how they use the pitchers tomorrow after Canady goes 2, rests 2, and then pitched the final 3.

Not putting away the game up 7-0 and Canady having to go 5 innings as opposed to 2 was a missed opportunity. But if you told me before the game Canady would only have to pitch 5 innings and throw ~75 pitches, I would have been thrilled and expected a 5 inning run rule.

The game certainly did not end up like that, but postseason is all about winning and not about style points. And I am glad if we were to play a close game in the regional opener (like last year), it was a higher scoring affair, because that meant our offense, which had been struggling, really produced tonight.

[d4cohn]

Stanford wins and avoids a disaster in their first game. Canady was brilliant and very efficient. Kern had a couple of great defensive plays. 

It will be very interesting how they use the pitchers tomorrow after Canady goes 2, rests 2, and then pitched the final 3.

Not putting away the game up 7-0 and Canady having to go 5 innings as opposed to 2 was a missed opportunity. But if you told me before the game Canady would only have to pitch 5 innings and throw ~75 pitches, I would have been thrilled and expected a 5 inning run rule.

The game certainly did not end up like that, but postseason is all about winning and not about style points. And I am glad if we were to play a close game in the regional opener (like last year), it was a higher scoring affair, because that meant our offense, which had been struggling, really produced tonight.

[Jamesy]

I'm worried about the pitching. Canady can't do it all herself. Having vawter last year was brobdingnagian and Canady just doesn't seem as sharp the second half of this season as she seemed last year.

[Jamesy]

I'm worried about the pitching. Canady can't do it all herself. Having vawter last year was brobdingnagian and Canady just doesn't seem as sharp the second half of this season as she seemed last year.

[d4cohn]

Stanford with an early 2-0 lead on Mississippi State in the regional semifinal. An RBI Double by Jade Berry and a no-doubt HR by Ava Gall give the Cardinal the lead heading into the top of the fourth. NiJaree Canady has 7K's out of 9 outs.

[d4cohn]

Stanford with an early 2-0 lead on Mississippi State in the regional semifinal. An RBI Double by Jade Berry and a no-doubt HR by Ava Gall give the Cardinal the lead heading into the top of the fourth. NiJaree Canady has 7K's out of 9 outs.

[d4cohn]

Stanford with a narrow 2-1 lead heading into the T6. Leadoff Sierra Sacco got one back for MSU with a solo homerun to straightaway center.

Cardinal have stranded runners in scoring positions in multiple consecutive innings. The difference has been the lack of productive outs with runners on base.

---

Stanford advances to the regional final, with a gritty 2-1 win over Mississippi State. NiJaree was brilliant, with 13K's and throwing a complete game 3 hitter. The lone mistake was a solo homerun. Otherwise, the potent Bulldog lineup was overmatched.

Stanford gets much needed rest the rest of the day, and will return to action tomorrow at 2pm PT.

[d4cohn]

Stanford with a narrow 2-1 lead heading into the T6. Leadoff Sierra Sacco got one back for MSU with a solo homerun to straightaway center.

Cardinal have stranded runners in scoring positions in multiple consecutive innings. The difference has been the lack of productive outs with runners on base.

---

Stanford advances to the regional final, with a gritty 2-1 win over Mississippi State. NiJaree was brilliant, with 13K's and throwing a complete game 3 hitter. The lone mistake was a solo homerun. Otherwise, the potent Bulldog lineup was overmatched.

Stanford gets much needed rest the rest of the day, and will return to action tomorrow at 2pm PT.

[Hieronymus]

1716072650[/url]']
Stanford with a narrow 2-1 lead heading into the T6. Leadoff Sierra Sacco got one back for MSU with a solo homerun to straightaway center.

Cardinal have stranded runners in scoring positions in multiple consecutive innings. The difference has been the lack of productive outs with runners on base.

---

Stanford advances to the regional final, with a gritty 2-1 win over Mississippi State. NiJaree was brilliant, with 13K's and throwing a complete game 3 hitter. The lone mistake was a solo homerun. Otherwise, the potent Bulldog lineup was overmatched.

Stanford gets much needed rest the rest of the day, and will return to action tomorrow at 2pm PT.

Apparently 70 pitches yesterday were few enough to not limit her at all today. It certainly solved my pitching worries for this game.

Overall solid defense, decent hitting though they couldn’t string anything together today and one unfortunate bad baserunning error that probably didn’t cost them.

[Hieronymus]

1716072650[/url]']
Stanford with a narrow 2-1 lead heading into the T6. Leadoff Sierra Sacco got one back for MSU with a solo homerun to straightaway center.

Cardinal have stranded runners in scoring positions in multiple consecutive innings. The difference has been the lack of productive outs with runners on base.

---

Stanford advances to the regional final, with a gritty 2-1 win over Mississippi State. NiJaree was brilliant, with 13K's and throwing a complete game 3 hitter. The lone mistake was a solo homerun. Otherwise, the potent Bulldog lineup was overmatched.

Stanford gets much needed rest the rest of the day, and will return to action tomorrow at 2pm PT.

Apparently 70 pitches yesterday were few enough to not limit her at all today. It certainly solved my pitching worries for this game.

Overall solid defense, decent hitting though they couldn’t string anything together today and one unfortunate bad baserunning error that probably didn’t cost them.

[Jamesy]

1716072650[/url]']
Stanford with a narrow 2-1 lead heading into the T6. Leadoff Sierra Sacco got one back for MSU with a solo homerun to straightaway center.

Cardinal have stranded runners in scoring positions in multiple consecutive innings. The difference has been the lack of productive outs with runners on base.

---

Stanford advances to the regional final, with a gritty 2-1 win over Mississippi State. NiJaree was brilliant, with 13K's and throwing a complete game 3 hitter. The lone mistake was a solo homerun. Otherwise, the potent Bulldog lineup was overmatched.

Stanford gets much needed rest the rest of the day, and will return to action tomorrow at 2pm PT.

Apparently 70 pitches yesterday were few enough to not limit her at all today. It certainly solved my pitching worries for this game.

Overall solid defense, decent hitting though they couldn’t string anything together today and one unfortunate bad baserunning error that probably didn’t cost them.

Is Nija going to pitch both games tomorrow if necessary?

[Jamesy]

1716072650[/url]']
Stanford with a narrow 2-1 lead heading into the T6. Leadoff Sierra Sacco got one back for MSU with a solo homerun to straightaway center.

Cardinal have stranded runners in scoring positions in multiple consecutive innings. The difference has been the lack of productive outs with runners on base.

---

Stanford advances to the regional final, with a gritty 2-1 win over Mississippi State. NiJaree was brilliant, with 13K's and throwing a complete game 3 hitter. The lone mistake was a solo homerun. Otherwise, the potent Bulldog lineup was overmatched.

Stanford gets much needed rest the rest of the day, and will return to action tomorrow at 2pm PT.

Apparently 70 pitches yesterday were few enough to not limit her at all today. It certainly solved my pitching worries for this game.

Overall solid defense, decent hitting though they couldn’t string anything together today and one unfortunate bad baserunning error that probably didn’t cost them.

Is Nija going to pitch both games tomorrow if necessary?