LSU softball vs Stanford final score, updates, highlights: NiJaree Canady shuts out Tigers, forcing Game 3

After a dominant Game 1, LSU softball was one win away vs. Stanford from making the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Following a Game 2 shutout in the Stanford Super Regional, the goal remains the same heading into a pivotal winner-take-all Game 3 on Sunday. After Cardinal pitching phenom NiJaree Canady looked to be no match for the Tigers' offense in Game 1, she experienced a return to form on Sataurday after giving up a career-high six runs on Friday.

Kelley Lynch earned the start for LSU on Saturday, allowing three runs across seven innings. Stanford added two insurance runs in the seventh inning, putting a damper on a potential comeback for LSU, with RBIs coming from Emily Jones and Kyra Chan.

Less than 24 hours from an uncharacteristic start — giving up a career-high in hits (10) and runs (six) Canady was on cruise control against LSU all night as the sophomore pitcher struck out nine across seven scoreless innings of work. It took until the bottom of the fifth inning for LSU to record its first hit of the night, when left fielder Ali Newland began the inning with a double off the center field wall.

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The Tigers will now play Sunday to try to clinch a WCWS berth over the Cardinal in Game 3 of the Stanford Super Regional. LSU has not advanced out of the super regional round of the NCAA Softball Tournament since 2017.

Check out the full highlights recapping LSU's Game 2 loss to Stanford to even the series at 1-1:

LSU vs. Stanford softball live updates

All times in Central

Bottom of 7th Inning: Stanford 3, LSU 0

10:09 p.m.: LSU drops Game 2 of the Stanford Super Regional to Stanford 3-0 as Maddox McKee strikes out swinging for the final out of the game. Tigers will play the Cardinal again on Sunday, May 26 with a trip to the Women's College World Series on the line.

10:07 p.m.: Maci Bergeron pops up to Jade Berry in foul territory along the third baseline for the second out. LSU down to its final out.

10:06 p.m.: Ali Newland extends the game for the LSU as she works the one-out walk.

10:04 p.m.: Taylor Pleasants grounds out to second for the first out of the inning. LSU down to its last two outs.

10:03 p.m.: LSU coming up to bat down to its final three outs in regulation. Taylor Pleasants, Ali Newland and Maci Bergeron up to bat for the Tigers.

Top of 7th Inning: Stanford 3, LSU 0

10 p.m.: Kyra Chan gets one under the glove of LSU's second baseman Karli Petty, scoring Emily Jones from second to put Stanford up 3-0 over LSU. Chan advanced to second on the throw home from McKenzie Redoutey.

9:58 p.m.: Taryn Kern pops up in foul territory along the third baseline for the second out of the inning. LSU has a brief conversation on the mound as Kyra Chan comes up to bat.

9:55 p.m.: Kelley Lynch gets Johnna Schroeder swinging for the first out of the inning. It is just the third strikeout on the night for Lynch.

9:54 p.m.: After review, River Mahler did not leave third base early. Stanford holds a 2-0 lead over LSU with no outs here in the seventh inning and Emily Jones on second.

9:52 p.m.: Emily Jones sneaks one past the glove of Raeleen Gutierrez at first, scoring River Mahler from third to put Stanford up 2-0. LSU is challenging whether River Mahler left third base or not early.

9:51 p.m.: Ciara Briggs dives for the ball but can't make the play, resulting in River Mahler starting the top of the seventh with a lead-off triple.

9:50 p.m.: Kelley Lynch back out on the mound for LSU with 89 total pitches. LSU looking for a clean inning of work from its graduate student pitcher as Tigers trail Stanford 1-0.

Bottom of 6th Inning: Stanford 1, LSU 0

9:47 p.m.: Stanford wins the challenge as the call at second base is overturned. Huge break for LSU, who would have had two runners on base and the tying run 120 feet away. Heading to the seventh inning with Stanford leading 1-0.

9:46 p.m.: Stanford challenges the play at second base after Raeleen Gutierrez's contact tips off of NiJaree Canady's glove. River Mahler picks up the deflection and steps on the base, but the second base umpire calls Kelley Lynch safe at second.

9:45 p.m.: On a 3-1 count, NiJaree Canady jams Kelly Lynch as Lynch grounds out into a fielder's choice. Ciara Briggs out at second, Lynch safe at first base on the throw.

9:41 p.m.: Ciara Briggs wins the battle against NiJaree Canady as she sneaks a single up the middle past the Stanford infield, who was playing in. It is the second hit of the night for LSU. Meeting on the mound with Canady, Aly Kaneshiro and Stanford's pitching coach.

9:40 p.m.: McKenzie Redoutey makes soft contact as she flies out to left field for the first out of the bottom of the sixth.

Top of 6th Inning: Stanford 1, LSU 0

9:37 p.m.: Kelly Lynch works a very fast 1-2-3 top of the sixth inning as she gets Caelan Koch and Jaden Berry to ground out to second and fly out to center respectively for the final two outs of the inning. It is the second time Lynch has retired Stanford 1-2-3 on the night.

9:35 p.m.: Aly Kaneshiro flies out to left field for the first out of the inning on the first pitch.

Bottom of the 5th Inning: Stanford 1, LSU 0

9:31 p.m.: LSU can't capitalize on Ali Newland's lead-off double in the inning as NiJaree Canady gets Karli Petty to strike out swinging for the third out. Petty's strikeout is the eighth one of the night, which is four away from tying the Tigers' season high of strikeouts of 12 vs. Alabama in the SEC Tournament.

9:30 p.m.: Hannah Carson strikes out swinging as she chases the third strike of the at-bat.

9:28 p.m.: Maci Bergeron strikes out swinging for the first out of the inning. Hannah Carson comes into the game as a pinch hitter for Madyson Manning.

9:26 p.m.: Ali Newland puts LSU in the hits column as she laces one to the warning track in center field for a lead-off double. LSU has its first runner in scoring position on the night. Tigers were 5-for-11 in RISP last night against Stanford.

Top of the 5th Inning: Stanford 1, LSU 0

9:24 p.m.: Aly Kaneshiro hits a roller to Madyson Manning at third for the final out of the inning. LSU heads to the bottom of the fifth still looking for its first hit of the night against NiJaree Canady.

9:23 p.m.: Kelly Lynch can't seem to retire Kyra Chan on the night as Chan hits up the middle for a two-out single for her second hit of the night.

9:19 p.m.: Kaitlyn Lim flies out to McKenzie Redoutey in foul territory in right field for the first out of the inning.

Bottom of 4th Inning: Stanford 1, LSU 0

9:18 p.m.: NiJaree Canady is currently no-hitting LSU on Saturday as the Tigers have yet to record a hit through four innings. Tigers have struck out five times.

9:14 p.m.: Savanna Bedell is stranded at first base as Taylor Pleasants strikes out looking on for the third out after a lengthy battle against NiJaree Canady. Tigers leave their first base runner since the first inning on base, as LSU heads to the fifth inning trailing 1-0 to Stanford.

9:12 p.m.: Raeleen Gutierrez hits a sky-high pop to right field for the second out of the inning. Taylor Pleasants comes to the plate as the Tigers look to extend this inning.

9:10 p.m.: Savanna Bedell comes in as a pinch runner for Kelley Lynch at first.

9:09 p.m.: After Ciara Briggs grounds out to second for the first out of the inning, Kelley Lynch works a 3-2 count for her second walk of the game. It is the first base runner for LSU in three innings since Lynch drew a walk in the first inning.

9:07 p.m.: During her in-game interview on ESPN, LSU coach Beth Torina said her message to her team coming heading into the bottom of the 4th inning was to relax, citing some tense at-bats for the Tigers in the previous innings. As for the last-minute pitching change from Sydney Berzon to Kelley Lynch, she said it was not a last-minute change and something they were prepared for. She mentioned that Berzon, along with any of the other LSU pitchers, is available out of relief "depending on how the game plays out."

Top of 4th Inning: Stanford 1, LSU 0

9:04 p.m.: Kelley Lynch responds back nicely after some early traffic in the inning, as as Emily Jones lines out to Ciara Briggs in center field for the third out of the inning. Stanford leaves two runners on base.

9:03 p.m.: Kelley Lynch gets a big second out in the inning as Stanford pinch hitter Allie Clements flies out to Ciara Briggs in center field.

9 p.m.: After getting Caelan Koch to line out to second for the first out of the inning, Kelly Lynch hits Jade Berry. LSU coach Beth Torina came out to talk briefly with the home plate umpire on what looked to be about whether Berry leaned in or not on the pitch which resulted in her getting a free trip to first.

8:59 p.m.: Stanford continues to put together hits against LSU and Kelly Lynch as Aly Kaneshiro begins the top of the fourth with a single down the left field line. It looked like Ali Newland was going to make the catch but the ball dropped in front of her.

Bottom of 3rd Inning: Stanford 1, LSU 0

8:55 p.m.: LSU gets retired 1-2-3 for the second consecutive inning by NiJaree Canady as McKenzie Redouetey chases a ball for the third strike, her second strikeout of the night at the plate. Tigers head to the fourth inning, trailing Stanford 1-0.

8:54 p.m.: LSU was inches away from its first hit of the night, but Stanford's first baseman Ava Gall snags up Karli Petty's hit into the 4-3 gap for the unassisted out at first. Two down in the bottom of the third for the Tigers.

8:53 p.m.: Madyson Manning strikes out swinging for the first out of the inning. It is the third strikeout of the night by LSU hitters.

Top of 3rd Inning: Stanford 1, LSU 0

8:48 p.m.: Kelley Lynch gets out of the inning as Ava Gall grounds out to Taylor Pleasants at shortstop for the third out of the inning. LSU trails Stanford 1-0 heading into the home half of the third.

8:47 p.m.: Stanford takes a 1-0 lead as Kyra Chan hits one over Ciara Briggs' head in centerfield, scoring Taryn Kern from third.

8:44 p.m.: Stanford's challenge is unsuccessful, Taryn Kern remains at third base. Kelley Lynch now faces her first runner in scoring position on the night with Kyra Chan comes to the plate with two outs.

8:40 p.m.: McKenzie Redouetey knocks down a potential home run for Stanford as the ball bounces back into the stadium, Taryn Kern gets only a triple out of the play. Kelley Lynch will now look to hold Kern at third as LSU has two outs in the inning. Stanford is challenging the play for a potential home run.

8:39 p.m.: Quick first out in the third inning for Kelley Lynch as Stanford's Emily Jones swings at the first pitch, grounding out to Taylor Pleasants at shortstop.

Bottom of 2nd Inning: LSU 0, Stanford 0

8:35 p.m.: Similarly how the top of the second, LSU gets retired 1-2-3 by NiJaree Canady. Tigers made contact on the final two outs of the inning as Ali Newland lined out to short while Maci Bergeron grounded out in a 1-3 putout. Heading to the third inning all knotted up at 0-0.

8:33 p.m.: Taylor Pleasants goes down swinging in her first at-bat of the night.

Top of 2nd Inning: LSU 0, Stanford 0

8:30 p.m.: A quick 1-2-3 inning on the mound for Kelly Lynch as she retires the side by striking out Stanford's River Mahler for her first strikeout of the night. That is now six straight batters that Lynch has retired after giving up a lead-off walk to open the game.

8:27 p.m.: Tigers left fielder Ali Newland with a very nice defensive play in the outfield as she brings the ball back in, catching Jade Berry's fly ball on the warning track for the second out.

8:23 p.m.: Kelly Lynch wins the 3-2 battle with Caelan Koch as Koch flies out to Ciara Briggs near the warning track in centerfield for the first out of the inning.

Bottom of 1st Inning: LSU 0, Stanford 0

8:21 p.m.: Inning comes to an end for LSU as the Tigers leave a runner on base, as Raeleen Gutierrez grounds out for the third out of the inning.

8:20 p.m.: Kelley Lynch continues the inning as she works a two-out walk, giving LSU its first base runner of the night.

8:17 p.m.: Ciara Briggs loses a lengthy battle with Stanford's NiJaree Canaday as Briggs grounds out to first for the second out.

8:15 p.m.: McKenzie Redouetey strikes out swinging for the first out of the bottom of the first.

Top of 1st Inning: LSU 0, Stanford 0

8:10 p.m.: After giving up a lead-off walk, Kelly Lynch responds back by retiring the next three Stanford batters. Lynch got Aly Kaneshiro to ground out to third for the third and final out of the first inning. Tigers up to bat for the first time tonight.

8:08 p.m.: Kelly Lynch records her first out of the game as Kyra Chan pops it up to Taylor Pleasants at shortstop.

8:07 p.m.: Taryn Kern begins the game with a walk.

8:05 p.m.: LSU makes a change in the circle as Kelly Lynch will be the starting pitcher for the Tigers in Game 2 against Stanford, instead of Sydney Berzon who was the original starter. Lynch brings a 9-2 record with a 2.68 ERA in 96 ⅔ innings pitched this season.

Pregame

8 p.m.: Here's the lineup for the Tigers in Game 2 against Stanford:

7:41 p.m.: First pitch between LSU and Stanford is approaching, and should be on time as Texas-Texas A&M finished up on time.

7:37 p.m.: Through four games in the NCAA Softball Tournament, LSU has outscored its opponents 29-2. The Tigers defeated Jackson State 5-0 and Southern Illinois 4-1 and 9-0 in the Baton Rouge Regional before Friday night's thunderous 11-1 win over Stanford.

What channel is LSU vs. Stanford softball on today?

• TV: ESPN

• Streaming: ESPN app | Fubo (free trial)

According to LSU's softball schedule, the Tigers’ Game 2 meeting vs. Stanford will air on ESPN. Streaming options include the ESPN app and Fubo, which offers a free trial.

LSU vs. Stanford softball start time

• Date: Saturday, May 25

• Time: 8 p.m. CT

First pitch for LSU's game against Stanford is scheduled for 8 p.m. CT from Boyd & Jill Smith Family Stadium in Stanford, California. It will be 6 p.m. local time.

REQUIRED READING: LSU softball vs Stanford final score, highlights: Tigers win behind monster fifth inning, Kelley Lynch grand slam

LSU softball schedule 2024

Here are LSU softball’s past five results. To view the Tigers’ full 2024 schedule, click here.

• Friday, May 10: Missouri 2, LSU 1 (8 innings)

• Friday, May 17: Jackson State 5, LSU 0

• Saturday, May 18: LSU 4, Southern Illinois 1

• Sunday, May 19: LSU 9, Southern Illinois 0 (5 innings)

• Friday, May 24: LSU 11, Stanford 1 (5 innings)

Stanford softball schedule 2024

Here are Stanford softball’s past five results. To view the Cardinal’s full 2024 schedule, click here.

• Friday, May 17: Stanford 8, St. Mary's 6

• Saturday, May 18: Stanford 2, Mississippi State 1

• Sunday, May 19: Cal State Fullerton 8, Stanford 1

• Sunday, May 19: Stanford 4, Cal State Fullerton 2

• Friday, May 24: LSU 11, Stanford 1 (5 innings)

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This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: LSU softball vs Stanford final score, highlights from Game 2