Stanford Hosts Oregon StateStanford Hosts Oregon State
Karen Ambrose Hickey/Stanford At
Softball

Stanford Hosts Oregon State

Game Notes Opens in a new window

STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford continues Pac-12 play at home this week hosting Oregon State, April 13-15, at Smith Family Stadium. Last season, Stanford dropped the first two games of its series at Oregon State. The Cardinal picked up an 8-6 eight-inning win in the series finale on April 23, 2017. Overall, Oregon State has won the last four series against the Cardinal. Stanford's last series win over the Beavers came in April of 2013.

PROMOTIONS
Lots of fun on The Farm this weekend. For a list of promotions for the remainder of the season, click here.
Friday: Second set of trading cards, first 100 fans.
Saturday: Softball bingo and postgame autographs.
Sunday: Little League Day, free ice cream (while supplies last) and t-shirt giveaway.
 


CARDINAL REACHES 20 WINS
After the first weekend of conference play, Stanford had already exceeded its win total from 2017, when the Cardinal finished 19-32. Stanford has reached the 20-win mark for the first time since a 30-25 campaign in 2014, which also represents the program's most recent winning season. Among Stanford's highlights is a six-game winning streak in March, the Cardinal's longest since a 13-game unbeaten stretch to open 2014.

MOVING UP THE RANKINGS 
Sophomore Teaghan Cowles already ranks second all-time at Stanford with six triples this season—the most in a year since Cassandra Roulund had six in 2013. Cowles is two away from the single-season school record (8) set by Ashley Hansen in 2012. Hansen also holds the program's career record with 18. Cowles has already racked up 10 triples in her first 1.5 years on The Farm—fourth-most all-time and one away from matching Roulund for third.

DWYER SETTING THE TONE
Freshman Maddy Dwyer has been impressive in the circle as Stanford's primary starter. Through 18 starts, Dwyer has posted an 11-7 record with an ERA of 2.12. In 112.0 innings pitched, Dwyer has allowed 90 hits while striking out 74. Dwyer was at her best in nonconference play, registering seven complete games and four shutouts. Dwyer has also converted in three saves in relief. 

STOLEN BASE HAS BEEN A STAPLE
Stanford's offense is getting a serious boost from its success on the basepaths, ranking second in the Pac-12 with 47 stolen bases in 57 attempts. In fact, the Cardinal's 47 steals are more than the entire production from the last three seasons combined (8-10 in 2017, 4-5 in 2016 and 22-26 in 2015 for a total of 34 steals in 41 tries). The running game has been anchored by sophomore Teaghan Cowles, who is perfect in 16 attempts and s tied for second in the conference. Sophomore Alyssa Horeczko is 12-16, giving Stanford two players with at least 10 steals for the first time since 2014. Both players are also pacing Stanford offensively, with Cowles leading the squad in batting average (.386), runs (28) and hits (49), while Horeczko is third with a .349 batting average.
 


DIXON, HOWELL EMERGE AS CONTRIBUTORS
Sophomores Montana Dixon and Hannah Howell have emerged as fixtures in the Cardinal lineup, making the transition as everyday players in their second season. Both have been reliable contributors, with Dixon starting all 28 games in which she has appeared, while Howell is one of four players on the roster to start all 38 contests. Dixon is batting .324, leads the club in RBI (26), ranks third in runs (19) and sixth in hits (23). One year after hitting .185, Howell has raised her average to .355 and ranks second in hits (44).

ALLISTER RETURNS TO THE FARM
Jessica Allister enters her first season at the helm after being named the Cardinal's fourth head coach on July 18, 2017. Allister arrived on The Farm after serving as the head coach at Minnesota for seven seasons, compiling a 290-107 (.730) overall record. Allister led the Gophers to unprecedented heights in 2017, registering a program-best 56-5 record and earning the first No. 1 national ranking in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches poll in program history. A second-team All-American in 2004 and three-time all-conference selection, Allister helped guide the Cardinal to four NCAA Women's College World Series appearances in 2001 and 2004. A four-year starting catcher, Allister holds the school record for most games played (266) and graduated among the top-10 in numerous career categories.

MILESTONE FOR ALLISTER
Head coach Jessica Allister recently registered her 300th career win against Santa Clara on Feb. 25. Now in her eighth season as a head coach, Allister holds a 312-123 (.717) career record.