The No. 7 Stanford softball team grabbed a 2-1 extra-innings victory over Washington on Friday, but its pitching could not quite make up for a stagnant offense the next two days, as the Cardinal lost a pair of close games (1-0 and 4-1) against No. 4 UCLA on Saturday and Sunday.

Stanford (42-10, 7-8 Pacific-10 Conference) pitcher Missy Penna threw 24 innings over the three games for the Cardinal, picking up her 30th win of the season in the Washington game. Penna became just the second pitcher in program history to win 30 games in a season.

The Cardinal could not get anything going early against Washington (25-17-1, 4-8 Pac-10). Huskies pitcher Macon Aleah gave up only a bunt single in the first three innings. But Aleah started to show cracks in her armor in the bottom of the fourth.

Stanford sophomore catcher Rosey Neill tagged a one-out single to right field and two batters later the bases were loaded thanks to a hit batsman and a walk. Senior third baseman Michelle Smith then forced a run home with another walk, successfully laying off a full-count pitch.

As quickly as it had awoken, the Cardinal offense went to sleep again, not managing another hit until the third extra frame, the tenth inning. Washington had scored to make it 1-1 and force extras in the top of the seventh with a sacrifice fly, and the two teams traded no-hit half-innings until the Cardinal outfield set things up from the plate.

Right fielder Alana Beardman and center fielder Alissa Haber hit back-to-back one-out singles before left fielder Tricia Aggabao moved them to second and third with a sacrifice bunt. Designated player Erin Howe then drew a walk, putting Neill at the plate with the bases loaded. Neill drew another full count from Aleah before watching ball four sail by to drive home the winning run.

The UCLA pitching staff, however, was far less forgiving to the Stanford offense in the next two games. The Bruins walked only two Stanford batters in all 14 innings that they played, minimizing the damage done by the Cardinal’s eight total hits.

Only one of those eight Stanford hits was for extra bases — a double by Maddy Coon in the Saturday game.

Stanford never led in the two games against UCLA. The Cardinal had four hits but no runs in the first three innings on Sunday, while UCLA took advantage of back-to-back doubles in the fourth inning to get all the runs it needed. The Cardinal could not solve UCLA’s committee of pitchers and ended up losing 1-0.

UCLA gave itself a more comfortable cushion in the first inning of the Sunday match-up. Penna struck out the first Bruin, but the next two got on base and both scored when cleanup hitter Megan Langenfeld smacked a three-run homerun to right field.

Stanford got one run back in the second inning when Shannon Koplitz singled home Coon, but it was not enough for the Cardinal, who succumbed by a 4-1 score.

Sunday’s loss to UCLA was also Senior Day for the Cardinal. The six seniors on Stanford’s roster — Beardman, Aggabao, Smith, Howe, pitcher Becky McCullough and utility player Jess Zutz — were honored in their final home game at Smith Family Stadium.

The Cardinal will return to the field this weekend in the Pacific Northwest as the team hits the road to play Oregon on Friday and then a pair against Oregon State on Saturday and Sunday.