Stanford is set for a busy week on the road, as the No. 19 Cardinal softball team will play East Carolina on Wednesday, Mar. 23, before a three-game series against Duke from Friday through Sunday.
This stretch follows Stanford’s recent three-game sweep at North Carolina, where the Cardinal outscored their opponents 30-14. The team improved its batting average during that series, finishing with a .423 average and scoring 30 runs over three games. Duke enters the weekend second in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) with an 8-1 conference record and stands at 22-10 overall.
The Cardinal are looking to continue their momentum after bouncing back from an ACC series loss to Notre Dame earlier this month. Head coach Jessica Allister recently achieved her 300th career win at Stanford and now holds a record of 308-152 in her ninth season leading her alma mater.
Individual players have also made significant contributions this season. Zoe Prystajko has earned both National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division I and ACC Pitcher of the Week honors two weeks ago, showing marked improvement across nearly every statistical category in her sophomore year. Taryn Kern has excelled as Stanford’s leadoff hitter; last weekend against North Carolina she went seven-for-nine at bat, scored eight runs, drove in three runs batted in (RBI), and hit four extra-base hits.
Newcomer Addyson Sheppard has made an immediate impact as a right-handed batter during her first collegiate season. Kyra Chan remains one of the team’s most consistent hitters across multiple offensive categories, while Emily Jones is currently enjoying a seven-game hitting streak.
Stanford’s upcoming matchups provide another opportunity for both established leaders and emerging talents to contribute as they look to build on their recent success.
