DURHAM, N.C. - No. 9 Stanford started fast before breaking the game open late, cruising past No. 8 Duke 7-2 on Saturday and advancing to its first NCAA Women's College World Series since 2004.
Remaining unbeaten through five postseason contests thanks to dominant pitching and timely hitting, Stanford (45-13) swept both games against Duke (48-12) to capture the NCAA Super Regional crown and extend one of its most memorable seasons in program history.
The Cardinal, which was competing in its seventh NCAA Super Regional, is headed to its third Women's College World Series appearance in school history after also reaching Oklahoma City in 2001.
One of eight players to record a hit, Taylor Gindlesperger went 3-for-4 with a pair of runs, as the Cardinal erased a 1-0 first-inning deficit and exploded for four runs in the fifth. Stanford finished 5-for-9 at the plate with runners in scoring position.
With inclement weather in the forecast for the next 48 hours, first pitch was moved up six hours to 6 a.m. PT. The early wake-up call didn't seem to rattle Stanford, which took the lead for good in the first inning following an RBI single from Aly Kaneshiro and sacrifice fly from Emily Young.
The Cardinal put the game away with a crooked number in the fifth inning, scoring three of its four runs with two outs. RBI singles from Kylie Chung and Sydney Steele opened the frame before a two-run single from Dani Hayes – her first hit of the season in only three at-bats and 19 games – brought home Kaitlyn Lim and Emily Schultz.
Alana Vawter picked up her 20th win in the circle, holding the Blue Devils in check over the first four innings and scattering five hits while striking out three without a walk.
Stanford then turned to NiJaree Canady in the fifth to close out the game and she delivered another dominant outing, allowing only one hit while striking out four in three innings.
The Cardinal's 45 victories are its most since a 48-11 finish in 2009 and the 40-win campaign is the first since 2012.
Saturday's milestone was the latest in a long line of achievements under head coach Jessica Allister, who owns a 196-112 overall record in six seasons on The Farm. Allister, whose career coaching record is 486-219 and includes a 290-107 mark during a seven-year tenure at Minnesota, has directed the Cardinal to four NCAA appearances, chalking up an 11-7 record with back-to-back NCAA Super Regional showings. Allister has guided the Cardinal to 11 NCAA appearances as a player (2001-04), assistant coach (2007-09) and head coach (2019, 2021-23).
Stanford will face the winner of No. 1 Oklahoma/No. 16 Clemson when opening round play in the Women's College World Series begins Thursday, June 1.