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) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the Stanford Cardinal women's softball team secured their spot in the semifinals after defeating the UCLA Bruins with a score of 3-2 on May 28, 2023. This victory came after a hard-fought battle between two top-ranked teams in the NCAA Division I softball tournament.

The game saw both teams displaying impressive pitching and defensive plays, with neither side able to gain a significant advantage until the later stages. For Stanford, it was their star pitcher, senior Kathy Canady, who stepped up when it mattered most. Canady pitched a complete game, allowing just two runs on six hits while striking out eight Bruin batters. Her performance was crucial in keeping UCLA at bay and giving her team a chance to mount a comeback.

Stanford trailed 2-1 going into the bottom of the sixth inning but managed to rally with two runs to take a 3-2 lead. The decisive moment came when sophomore outfielder, Maya Brady, hit a go-ahead RBI single that brought home freshman infielder, Marissa Drewry. This pivotal hit proved to be the difference-maker in the game.

With this win, Stanford advances to the WCWS semifinals for the second consecutive year. However, their journey is far from over as they now face a daunting task – they must defeat the Texas Longhorns not once but twice on Monday, May 29, 2023, to secure a spot in the championship series. The first game is scheduled for 2:30 PM Central Time, with the if-necessary game following at 7 PM Central Time.

The Cardinal will be looking for their pitching staff, led by Canady, to continue their strong performances as they aim to outlast their opponents in this best-of-three series. The team's offense, which has been inconsistent at times during the tournament, will also need to step up if they are to have a chance against the formidable Longhorns.

The stage is set for an exciting finale at the WCWS as the best teams in college softball battle it out for a chance to claim the national title. Stanford's journey continues as they look to build upon their impressive victory over UCLA and secure their place in softball history.