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Stanford (30-10) at Fresno State (30-14)
Tuesday • 6 p.m. PT • Fresno, Calif.
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QUICK HITS
» Stanford owns the #26 RPI in the nation this week ... is receiving votes in this week's USA Today/NFCA (2) and USA Softball (17) polls ... earned a national ranking (#22 according to Softball America) on March 5 for the first time since April 1, 2014 (#24 in NFCA and USA Softball) ... won a two-game series at Cal for it's first Pac-12 series win since sweeping Cal from May 3-5, 2013 ... 30-7 was the best since 2010 (30-7) ... 30 wins this year are the most in a season since 2014 (30-25) - a year after the Cardinal went 39-21 ... started Pac-12 play 3-0 for the first time in program history ... 7-2 start to Pac-12 play was the best since the 2005 squad started 8-2 ... has already surpassed its overall (24) and Pac-12 (3) win totals from 2018 ... seven Pac-12 wins is equal to the previous four years combined ... has had 18 games decided by two or fewer runs this year (15-3), including going 11-3 in one-run contests ... won 12 straight games from February 21-March 8 ... 12-game win streak was the longest since the 2014 squad began the year 13-0 ... had not dropped consecutive games all year until being swept at #7 Arizona from April 18-20 ... has delivered 76 two-out RBI, including 11 against Santa Clara on April 9, and is batting .286 (96x336) when hitting with two out ... is 16-for-44 (.364) with the bases loaded (2 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR) ... has put the leadoff hitter on base 45% of the time ... leads the Pac-12 in triples (22) and is second in the nation in triples per game (.55) ... 22 triples is a Stanford single-season record ... has scored first in 24 of the 40 games this year, and is 22-2 when scoring first ... has swiped 36 bases in 43 attempts to place seventh in the Pac-12 in stolen bases ... ranks fifth in the Pac-12 in ERA (3.11) ... is 2-3 against ranked opponents this year ... is 17-2 when hitting a home run this year.
» Whitney Burks is batting .353 (18x51) with runners aboard ... reached in 12 straight games from March 23 to April 13.
» Teaghan Cowles had a 12-game hit streak snapped on April 12 vs. Utah (.619, 26x42, 8 R, 5 2B, 2 3B, HR, 7 RBI), but has hit safely in 25 of the last 30 overall ... reached in 16 straight games from March 10 - April 18 ... was named Pac-12 and Louisville Slugger/NFCA National Player of the Week on March 5 after hitting .818 with an .889 OB% and 1.455 SLG% at the Stanford Invitational ... also garnered Pac-12 Player of the Week on April 1 after batting .688 to guide Stanford to a 4-1 record, including a series win over Oregon, the previous week ... raised her batting average 102 points over five games from March 1-3 (.271 to .373) ... hit safely in 10 straight games from February 22-March 8 (.500, 15x30, 16 R, 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBI) ... is second in the Pac-12 in triples (5) ... batting 20-for-49 (.408) with runners aboard, but .410 (34x83) with the bases empty ... is batting .355 (11x31) with four runs scored, two doubles and a triple over the last 10 games.
» Montana Dixon has reached in 29 of the last 31 games overall, including 17 straight from March 9 - April 14 ... has been hit by nine pitches this year to rank second in the Pac-12 ... is hitting .350 (14x40) with runners in scoring position ... is 14-for-38 (.368) when hitting with two out.
» Maddy Dwyer is 11-6 with a 3.06 ERA and one save over 21 appearances (18 starts) ... is ranked 12th in the Pac-12 in ERA.
» Hannah Howell has reached safely in 25 of her 32 games played ... is hitting .444 (16x36) with the bases empty.
» Kristina Inouye is 17-for-42 (.405) with runners in scoring position ... launched a grand slam vs. Cal Poly on March 3 ... batting .500 (6x12) with two runs scored, a triple and a homer over the last five games ... hitting .423 with six RBI over the last 10 games ... is tied for third in the Pac-12 in triples (4).
» Emily Klingaman has reached base in 31 of her 40 games played this year, including 11 straight from March 1-24.
» Carolyn Lee ranks 11th in the Pac-12 in ERA (2.98).
» Kiana Pancino is 7-0 with eight saves and a 2.64 ERA over 25 appearances (one start) ... leads the Pac-12 and is second in the nation in saves (8) ... ranks ninth in the Pac-12 in ERA.
» Emily Schultz went 5-for-6 with three doubles, a home run and seven RBI over a doubleheader against Saint Mary's on March 27 ... has seen 12 of her 22 hits go for extra bases (seven 2B, three 3B, two HR) ... is tied for seventh in the Pac-12 in triples (3) ... has hit .348 (8x23) with a double, two triples and four RBI over the last 10 games.
» Emily Young reached in 11 straight games from March 27 - April 14 ... connected for a two-out inside-the-park grand slam in the bottom of the third against Seattle University on February 9 ... is tied for third in the Pac-12 in triples (4) ... was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Week on March 5 ... batting .422 (19x45) with the bases empty ... has scored seven runs while hitting .346 (9x26) with three doubles, a triple and a homer over the last 10 games.
THIS WEEK
Stanford will play its final midweek and non-conference game of the regular season on Tuesday, traveling to Fresno State for a 6 p.m. first pitch. The Card will then continue Pac-12 play this weekend, hosting Arizona State in a three-game series beginning on Friday at 7 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT
Stanford dropped its first Pac-12 series of the year, suffering a sweep at the hands of No. 7 Arizona last weekend. The Cardinal was shutout, 7-0, on Thursday in the series opener, before dropping run-rule decisions on Friday and Saturday. Last weekend marked the first time this year that Stanford had dropped consecutive games. Junior Kristina Inouye proved to be a highlight offensively for the Card, batting .429 with a triple against the Wildcats.
UPCOMING PROMOTIONS
April 26 vs. Arizona State
» Make your own poster or visor at the Athletics table to show your Stanford spirit and support the Cardinal.
» Pick up the third set of trading cards at the Stanford Athletics table next to the press box.
April 27 vs. Arizona State
» The first 150 fans can pick up a free oven mitt at the Stanford Athletics table next to the press box.
» Take a seat on the outfield grass and enjoy a fireworks show after the game.
April 28 vs. Arizona State
» The first 100 pups receive their choice of a free rope toy or leash.
» Stick around for postgame autographs with the team on the walkway behind the first base side.
WINS FOR THE AGES
Stanford has picked up a few historic wins over the last month, collecting its first win over Cal on March 23 since earning a 14-13 win on March 14, 2014. The comeback victory on March 24 also secured the Card's first Pac-12 series win since sweeping the Bears from May 3-5, 2013. Stanford's 8-6 victory over Oregon on March 29 pushed the Card to its first 3-0 start to Pac-12 play in program history. That win was also the first for the Cardinal over Oregon since April 6, 2012 – snapping a string of 19 consecutive losses to the Ducks. Stanford finished the series with a 7-6 win over the Ducks to secure its first series win over Oregon since sweeping the Ducks from May 13-15, 2010.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Fresno State enters the midweek game sporting a 30-14 overall record and carrying a three-game win streak after most recently sweeping a series at Utah State last weekend. McKenzie Wilson paces the team offensively with a .379 average, while three different players own 35 RBI to pace the squad in that category. Rachel Minogue, Hayleigh Galvan and Vanessa Hernandez have all driven in 35, with Galvan and Hernandez both hitting six homers to guide the Bulldogs to 28 as a team. Fresno State has hit .309 while swiping 46 bags in 60 attempts. In the circle, the Bulldogs have combined for a 3.08 ERA, led by Hailey Dolcini at 2.29. Dolcini, who has struck out 102 hitters in 110 innings of work, is 13-5 overall on the season, while Danielle Lung has also amassed 13 victories. Linda Garza is in her third season at the helm of the program.
QUITE THE LEADER
Junior Teaghan Cowles has emerged as a stellar leadoff option at the top of the order, hitting first in each of the 40 games this year. Cowles is hitting a team-best .409 overall, including .410 (34x83) with the bases empty. Furthermore, she is reaching at a .525 clip (32x61) and hitting .411 (26x56) when leading off an inning. In true leadoff at bats to start a game, Cowles is hitting .405 (15x37) with two home runs and a triple.
EARLY RUNS
Despite being outscored 11-0 in the series against Oregon in the first inning, Stanford is still outscoring opponents, 38-18, in the first inning this year. The Card has hit .310 (49x158) with 12 doubles, five triples and six homers in the opening stanza. Reaching base at a .385 clip, Stanford has also drawn 17 walks. Including a 28-11 advantage in the second inning, Stanford is outscoring opponents, 66-29, in the first two frames.
MAKE IT A TRIPLE
Teaghan Cowles had six triples in 2018, tying for second all-time for a single season in Stanford program history. It was the most in a year since Cassandra Roulund also had six in 2013. Cowles did not triple over the first three weekends of this season, but recorded a pair in five games played at the Stanford Invitational. Now with five in 2019, Cowles has racked up 15 triples in her first three years on The Farm - third-most all-time. It seems the triple has become contagious in 2019, as Stanford has racked up a program-record 22 through 40 games this year to lead the Pac-12 and place second in the NCAA in triples per game.
TWO-OUT HITTING
Stanford is hitting .286 (96x3336) with two out this year, as three players with at least 20 at bats are batting .365 or better in the situation. Emily Schultz paces the way, connecting for a .381 average, followed by Teaghan Cowles (.375) and Montana Dixon (.368). Digging deeper into the clutch situation, the Card has delivered 76 two-out RBI, including 13 from Whitney Burks and 10 from Dixon. Dixon is hitting .474 (9x19) with two doubles, a homer and nine RBI when batting with two out and runners in scoring position, guiding Stanford to a .262 average as a team.
DON'T RUB IT
Stanford led the Pac-12 in hit by pitches in 2018, drawing 56. That trend has leaked a bit into 2019, as the Card has been hit by 28 pitches so far this season to rank third in the Pac-12. Junior Montana Dixon leads the way with nine hit by pitches to place second in the conference.
THREE SELECTED FOR ACE PROGRAM
Freshmen Emily Klingaman and Emily Schultz will join junior Hannah Howell as three of 20 Stanford student-athletes selected to participate in the Rubenstein-Bing Student-Athlete Civic Engagement (ACE) Program. Klingaman and Schultz are scheduled to go to Peru from July 20 - August 10, while Howell will kick-off the program from June 15 - July 6 in South Africa. The program provides one-time funding for accepted Stanford and Duke student-athletes to participate in three-week, immersive summer service experiences with international community partners. ACE is a joint collaboration between the Stanford and Duke athletic departments, as well as Haas Center for Public Service at Stanford and DukeEngage at Duke. The program is made possible by the generous supports of David Rubenstein and Peter and Helen Bing. Student-athletes from both institutions will have the chance to volunteer together in one of four international group programs (South Africa, Vietnam, China and Peru) with diverse service themes including coaching, education, environmental sustainability and conservation, and more.
COWLES NAMED PAC-12 & NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
After batting .818 to guide Stanford to a 5-0 record the previous week, junior Teaghan Cowles was tabbed Pac-12 and Louisville Slugger/NFCA National Player of the Week on March 5. The National Player of the Week selection was the first for the Cardinal since Kelsey Stevens captured the honor from the NFCA on February 26, 2013. Cowles, who shared the honor with NC State's Brigette Nordberg, also became the ninth player in Stanford history to claim a National Player of the Week selection. Cowles went 9-for-11 over the five games, including a victory over then-No. 23 Northwestern on March 1. Serving as the leadoff hitter in the order, she reached base at an .889 clip and slugged 1.455 while collecting 11 runs scored, two triples, a homer and two RBI. Cowles' on-base percentage was strengthened further by six walks and one hit-by-pitch. Once aboard, Cowles was 3-for-3 in stolen base attempts. The native of Ridgefield, Wash. batted 3-for-3 with four runs scored, a double, a homer and two RBI against Montana on March 1, finishing a double short of the cycle. She closed the week with a perfect 2-for-2 day on March 3 against Cal Poly, scoring four times and drawing three walks – two intentional. All told, Cowles reached safely in 16 of 18 plate appearances, including 15 of her final 16.
PAC-12 PLAYER OF THE WEEK PART II
Cowles earned her second Pac-12 Player of the Week selection of the year on April 1. Cowles went 11-for-16 (.688) with three runs scored, three doubles, a triple and a homer to finish with a 1.188 slugging percentage to guide Stanford to a 4-1 week that included a series win over Oregon. The native of Ridgefield, Wash. drove in three runs and added four walks to record a .750 on-base percentage. Cowles hit safely in all five games on the week, including posting multiple hits in four of the five. Serving as the leadoff hitter in the order, Cowles saw five of her 11 hits go for extra bases. Over two games against Saint Mary's on March 27, Cowles batted 4-for-6 with a run scored, two doubles and a triple. She would then finish 7-for-10 with two runs scored, a double, a homer and three RBI in the series against Oregon.
YOUNG TABBED TOP FRESHMAN
Freshman Emily Young garnered Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors on March 5, marking the first selection for a Stanford player since Teaghan Cowles was tabbed following the first week of the 2017 season. Young batted .462 (6-for-13) with three runs scored, two doubles, a triple and three RBI en route to being named Freshman of the Week. Stanford's starting shortstop posted a pair of multi-hit games, including finishing 2-for-2 with a double, a triple and three RBI against Montana on March 1. The native of Mason, Ohio closed the week by batting 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a double in Stanford's 13-5 victory over Cal Poly on March 3. Over the course of five Stanford victories, Young compiled a .769 slugging percentage and a .462 on-base percentage.
SIXTH INNING IS BIG
Stanford's 5-0 record at the LSU Invitational was highlighted by big sixth innings. The Card outscored opponents 14-2 in the sixth inning that weekend, including posting seven runs in the sixth against #7 LSU and six more against Michigan. Overall this season, Stanford is outscoring opposition 35-17 in the sixth.
ALLISTER AT TIGER PARK
While she is 5-0 at LSU's Tiger Park as head coach of Stanford, Jessica Allister's success in that venue precedes her move to The Farm. Allister went 9-0 over two trips to Baton Rouge while leading Minnesota, finishing 5-0 in 2014 and 4-0 in 2017, to accumulate a 14-0 overall record at one of the toughest venues to play in the nation.
HAVE A DAY, INOUYE
Junior infielder Kristina Inouye guided the way for Stanford offensively on Opening Day, finishing the two games hitting .833 (5-for-6) with two runs scored, a double, a triple and nine RBI. She slugged 1.333 and reached at an .857 clip. Overall on the weekend, Inouye batted .467 and drove in a Pac-12 best 11 runs while slugging .867. The native of Huntington Beach, Calif. posted 25 RBI a year ago, but owns a team-best 29 through 40 games this year. She has twice totaled five-plus RBI this season, notching six on February 8 vs. Kansas, and five against Cal Poly on March 3 - four coming by way of a grand slam.
STOLEN BASE A STAPLE
Stanford's offense got a serious boost from its success on the basepaths last year, ranking fourth in the Pac-12 with 55 stolen bases in 67 attempts. In fact, the Cardinal's 55 steals were more than the entire production from the previous 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 was anchored by Teaghan Cowles, who was fifth in the conference going 18-19. Alyssa Horeczko was 12-16, ranking ninth in the Pac-12, to give Stanford two players with at least 10 steals for the first time since 2014. The Card has seemingly picked up where it left off, swiping 36 bases in its first 43 attempts this year. Horeczko is 9-for-9, and Cowles is 8-for-9, to lead the way.
BURKS LAUNCHES A PAIR
Senior Whitney Burks connected for a pair of home runs in the season-opener on February 8 against Bradley. The team leader in home runs with five in 2018, Burks wasted no time getting her first in 2019, sending a leadoff shot out to straight-away centerfield in the second inning before capping an eight-run seventh with a three-run home run. The native of Fairfax Station, Va. finished the game 2-for-3 with two runs scored, the four RBI and a pair of walks. The multi-homer game was the first of Burks' career, and the first for the Cardinal since Kylie Sorenson hit a pair at Hawaii on March 4, 2016.
A LOOK BACK
Stanford finished the 2018 season with a 24-31 overall record and a 3-21 mark in the Pac-12. It was the most overall and conference wins for the Cardinal since 2014. In fact, after the first weekend of conference play, Stanford had already exceeded its win total from 2017. The Cardinal reached the 20-win mark for the first time since 2014. Among Stanford's highlights were a six-game winning streak in March, the Cardinal's longest since a 13-game unbeaten stretch to open 2014. The Cardinal also earned wins over UCLA and Arizona in the same season for the first time since 2013.
CARD PICKED EIGHTH IN PRESEASON POLL
Stanford has been chosen by the conference coaches to finish eighth in the stacked Pac-12 Conference this season, the league announced on February 5. UCLA, which received five first-place votes and totaled 61 points overall, edged Washington as the favorite to win the Pac-12 title. Washington received four first-place votes and 60 overall points. The Bruins and Huskies are ranked first and second, respectively, in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top-25 poll to open the season. Arizona is tabbed third with 50 points, followed by Arizona State in fourth with 43 points. California and Oregon State share fifth with 31 points, followed by Utah (19), Stanford (17), and reigning Pac-12 Champion Oregon (12) to round out the poll.
FOWKES, WHITE NAMED TO ISRAELI NATIONAL TEAM
Senior outfielder Molly Fowkes was added to the Israeli National Softball Team on January 23, joining a squad that already includes former Stanford standout Leah White. Fowkes, White and their teammates will compete at the European Championships in late June. The top six teams will then move on to compete at an Olympic Qualifying tournament in July. In order to play for Israel, athletes are required to have at least one Jewish parent or grandparent and must travel to Israel to receive dual citizenship.
ALL-REGION RECOGNITION
Teaghan Cowles and Hannah Howell earned National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-West Region third team honors at third base and outfield, respectively, last season. It was the first career honor for both Cowles and Howell.
ACADEMIC ACCOLADES
Stanford led the Pac-12 with nine all-academic picks last year. Carolyn Lee, Victoria Molina and Lauren Wegner were selected to the first team, while Whitney Burks, Teaghan Cowles and Arden Pettit landed on the second team. Alyssa Horeczko, Hannah Howell and Kristina Inouye were honorable mention. Additionally, Lee was a CoSIDA Academic All-District pick.
2018 SINGLE SEASON MARKS
Stanford's 17 triples and .974 team fielding percentage from 2018 both matched the third-best output in a single season in program history, while the Cardinal's 55 stolen bases tied for 10th. Individually, Teaghan Cowles's 18 stolen bases tied for the ninth-best mark in a single season.
ALLISTER RETURNS TO THE FARM
Jessica Allister completed 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 registered her 300th career win against Santa Clara on Feb. 25, 2018. Now in her ninth season as a head coach, Allister holds a 344-145 (.703) career record.