The seventh-ranked Stanford softball team (22-2) escaped an upset bid Thursday, defeating the Campbell Camels 2-1 in its first game of this weekend’s Stanford Classic.

Senior third baseman Michelle Smith singled down the left field line to bring home junior shortstop Maddy Coon with one out in the bottom of the seventh, breaking a 1-1 tie.

The Cardinal trailed going into the seventh, but following a leadoff walk drawn by sophomore center fielder Alissa Haber and a sacrifice bunt by senior left fielder Tricia Aggabao, Coon tied the game up by doubling home Haber, setting the stage for Smith.

“Most of the pressure was off me,” said Smith, “Maddy did the hard part tying the game, so I just went up there and tried to hit the ball hard.”

Despite another dominating performance by junior pitcher Missy Penna, the Cardinal was in danger of suffering a monumental upset until the heroics of Coon and Smith.

Penna struck out 15 batters — accounting for all but six outs — while allowing only three hits en route to another victory, her 14th of the still young season.

The Cardinal fell behind, 1-0, when Camel left fielder Courtney Quinn homered with two outs in the bottom of the third.

Stanford squandered multiple opportunities to score as they managed only the two runs despite getting nine hits and drawing five bases on balls.

The Cardinal repeatedly displayed aggressive base running, which may have cost the team runs earlier in the game.

Haber was caught stealing third in the first inning, and she was also thrown out trying to go from first to third on Aggabao’s sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the fifth. Coon and Smith followed Aggabao with a single and a walk, respectively.

Sophomore second baseman Shannon Koplitz was also caught stealing second in the bottom of the sixth. Immediately following being thrown out, senior designated player Erin Howe doubled to right center, which may have scored Koplitz.

Smith felt that it was an interesting game, one which the Cardinal could learn from.

“Today could work as a bit of a wakeup call to tell us anyone can beat us any day,” Smith said.

Stanford will try to carry their seventh-inning success into the rest of the tournament, beginning tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. against the College of Charleston.

The Cougars enter the tournament with a 9-13 record. Sophomore Kristie Shifflett leads the team with five doubles and 12 RBIs on the season.

The Cardinal will actually battle the Cougars twice this weekend, with the second contest concluding the tournament Sunday morning at 11:00 a.m.

Immediately following Friday’s game against the College of Charleston, Stanford will do battle with the North Dakota State Bison.

NDSU has had a very successful early season, posting a 14-4 record prior to this weekend’s tournament. Offensively, the Bison are led by sophomores Laurel Pipkin and Melissa Chmielewaki. Pipkin carries a .456 average, while Chmielewaki has four homeruns and 22 RBIs.

Allison Bakke leads the way in the circle with nine wins and a 2.35 ERA.

On Saturday, Campbell will look to get its revenge on the Cardinal as the two teams meet for a second time at 2:00 p.m.

Freshman Lauren Stephan, who only allowed two Cardinal runs in Thursday’s loss, will look to have similar success in the rematch. If Stephan doesn’t pitch, she will be replaced by sophomore Brittany Stanley, who enters the tournament with 47 strikeouts and a 2.83 ERA.

In the afternoon, Stanford will square off against the Texas Tech Red Raiders for the second time this season.

In their first meeting, just last weekend during the Worth Classic, the Cardinal defeated the Red Raiders 9-2.

Stanford blasted three homeruns in the game, one each for Aggabao, Smith and sophomore catcher Rosey Neill.

Texas Tech will need returning all-Big-12 performer, Jennifer Corkin, to break out of her early season slump if it wants to upset the Cardinal.

Stanford concludes the tournament Sunday with a lone game against the College of Charleston.