STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford plays host to Bay Area rival California April 27-29, at Smith Family Stadium. Last season, Cal swept the series in Berkeley. The Cardinal's last win over the Bears came on March 14, 2014 in a 14-13 walk-off by Kayla Bonstrom. Stanford's last series win over Cal, which was a sweep, came during the 2013 season in Berkeley.
PROMOTIONS
Lots of fun on The Farm this weekend. For a list of promotions for the remainder of the season, click here.
Friday: Third set of trading cards, softball bingo and a poster/visor making station.
Saturday: Petting zoo and postgame run the bases.
Sunday: Pups at the Park, phone fan giveaway and postgame autographs.
We came to play #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/QLb7z4SAJz
— Stanford Softball (@StanfordSball) April 21, 2018
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, and a 4-1 win over then-No. 3 UCLA on the road.
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 racked up 10 triples in her first 1+ 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. She 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 third 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 third in the conference. Sophomore Alyssa Horeczko is 12-16, giving Stanford two players with at least 10 steals for the first time since 2014. Cowles is also pacing the Cardinal offensively, leading the squad in batting average (.356), runs (28) and hits (53).
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— Stanford Softball (@StanfordSball) April 12, 2018
Teaghan Cowles is a perfect 16-for-16 on stolen base attempts this year
Best start to a season for a Cardinal since Teagan Gerhart had 22 consecutive steals to start 2011 #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/WbqhrLBZLJ
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 three players on the roster to start all 45 contests. Dixon is batting .324, leads the club in RBI (26) despite not playing since March 24, and ranks fourth in runs (19). One year after hitting .185, Howell has raised her average to .342 and ranks second in hits (50) and runs (24).
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 312-130 (.706) career record.