Canady leads Stanford past UCLA and into Women’s CWS semifinals

In an exciting turn of events at the Women's College World Series (WCWS), Stanford University's softball team emerged victorious against the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a score of 3-2 on May 29, 2023. This triumphant result propelled Stanford into the WCWS semifinals, marking their second consecutive appearance in this prestigious stage of the tournament.

The game was a closely contested battle between two formidable teams. UCLA opened the scoring in the bottom of the third inning with a solo home run by their designated player, Rachel Garcia. However, Stanford responded swiftly in the top of the fourth inning when their leadoff hitter, Marissa Drewery, hit a solo home run of her own, tying the game at 1-1.

In the fifth inning, Stanford took a commanding 3-1 lead when pinch hitter, Haley Cruse, delivered a two-run single, driving in teammates Anna Wilson and Regan Dunn. UCLA attempted a comeback in the bottom of the sixth inning with a run scored by Briana Perez, but it was not enough to overcome Stanford's lead.

The Cardinal pitcher, Valerie Reyes, held strong throughout the game, allowing only two runs on five hits while striking out five batters. Her impressive performance was crucial in securing the win for her team.

With this victory, Stanford advanced to face the University of Texas Longhorns in a best-of-three series on May 30, 2023. The Longhorns had previously defeated the University of Florida in their quarterfinal matchup, making this a highly anticipated showdown between two powerhouse softball programs.

To reach the championship series, Stanford would need to win both games against Texas on May 30. The first game would begin at 12:30 PM ET, followed by a potential deciding game at 8:00 PM ET if necessary. The winner of this series would then face the victor of the other semifinal matchup between Florida State University and the University of Oklahoma in the best-of-three WCWS Championship Series, which is scheduled to begin on June 1, 2023.

The stage is set for an exhilarating conclusion to the 2023 Women's College World Series as four elite teams battle it out for the ultimate title. Stanford's journey continues as they aim to secure their place in the championship series with a win against Texas. The anticipation is palpable as fans eagerly await the outcome of this highly competitive tournament.