STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford softball heads to Eugene to take on the fourth-ranked Oregon Ducks at Jane Sanders Stadium this weekend. The three-game set begins Friday at 6 p.m. PT, continues Saturday at 5 p.m., and concludes Sunday at noon PT.
The Cardinal was swept by Oregon State at home last weekend, but in its last road trip, Stanford knocked off No. 3 UCLA in the series finale, 4-1, on April 8. Last season on The Farm, the Ducks swept this series. Stanford's last win in this series came at home in 2012, and its last win in Eugene was in 2011.
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 BASES
Stanford's offense is getting a serious boost from its success on the basepaths, ranking second in the Pac-12 with 49 stolen bases in 59 attempts. In fact, the Cardinal's 49 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 17 attempts and is 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 (.34), runs (28) and hits (2), while Horeczko is second with a .341 batting average.
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 three players on the roster to start all 42 contests. Dixon is batting .324, leads the club in RBI (26) despite not playing since March 24, ranks fourth in runs (19) and sixth in hits (23). One year after hitting .185, Howell has raised her average to .36 and ranks second in hits (47).
RETURN 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.
