Stanford University’s softball team defeated Saint Mary’s 6-1 on Apr. 3, moving to a season record of 21-11. The game featured strong pitching and five extra-base hits by the Cardinal, including two home runs from Taryn Kern.
The matchup saw Stanford’s pitchers limit the Gaels to one run on three hits while striking out eight batters. Alyssa Houston started in the circle for Stanford, delivering a hitless first inning with two strikeouts. After both teams traded solo home runs early in the game—Kern leading off for Stanford and Saint Mary’s responding in the second—the score was tied at one.
Zoe Prystajko took over pitching duties in the second inning and struck out four consecutive batters to keep the game even before Kern hit her second home run of the night in the third inning. This two-run shot followed an error that allowed Addyson Sheppard to reach base, bringing Kern’s season total to 13 home runs and marking her fifth career multi-home run game for Stanford.
The Cardinal extended their lead with three more runs in the fourth inning through a series of doubles and timely hitting by Ava Gall, Joie Economides, and Sydney Boulaphinh. Anna Brewer relieved Prystajko in the sixth inning, allowing just two hits over nearly two innings before Prystajko returned to close out the seventh.
Prystajko finished with six strikeouts over 4.1 non-consecutive innings pitched and earned her eleventh win of the season against four losses. The victory helped Stanford bounce back into winning form as they prepare to finish Cardinal Classic II with games against Saint Mary’s and Washington scheduled for tomorrow.
