TUCSON, Ariz. – The No. 18 Cardinal moved to 10-1 on the season today, splitting a pair of games against UC Davis and No. 13 Arizona. Freshman Zoe Prystajko stole the show in the circle, throwing a no-hitter in the 9-0 win over UC Davis, then adding another 1.2 hitless innings of relief against Arizona in a 4-1 loss.
Prystajko’s first career no-hitter was the 35th in program history, and the first by a Stanford pitcher since Regan Krause did it on March 29, 2023 at Cal State Fullerton. The Huntington Beach, Calif. native struck out three and allowed just one runner to reach base on an error.
Prystajko only had the hold the Aggies hitless for five innings, as the Cardinal bats gave her more than enough offensive support – run-ruling UC Davis behind four home runs.
Taryn Kern led off the game with a solo home run in the bottom of the first, her team-leading fifth of the season. Two batters later, River Mahler went yard as well to make it a 2-0 lead quickly.
The Cardinal doubled the lead in the next inning, thanks to a two-run homer courtesy of Joie Economides. The freshman has now hit four homers on the season, second-most on the team.
After a scoreless third inning, Stanford put a crooked number up in the bottom of the fourth. Kern’s second home run of the game, and sixth of the season, scored three to make it 7-0. An RBI triple from Mahler scored another to make it 8-0, then Mahler raced home on an RBI groundout from Ava Gall to make it 9-0.
Prystajko was perfect in the top of the fifth, striking out two to lock down the victory and move to 4-0 on the season.
In the second game of the day, Arizona struck first. The Wildcats scored on an RBI groundout in the bottom of the second, as well as a run crossing on a wild pitch in the third to make it a 2-0 Arizona lead.
In the fourth, Arizona added two more runs to make it 4-0.
Allie Clements hit her first home run of the season in the top of the seventh, crushing a ball to left field to cut the lead to 4-1. Clements finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate to pace the Cardinal hitters.
The Card is back for day two of the Hillenbrand Invitational tomorrow, taking on No. 1 Texas at 11:00 a.m. PT. The game can be streamed online via FloCollege.
POSTGAME NOTES:
- Stanford moved to 10-1, the best start since the team went 13-0 to start the 2014 season.
- The win against UC Davis extended a streak of eight-straight run-rule wins for Stanford.
- Freshman Zoe Prystajko threw the 35th no-hitter in program history, and first since March of 2023.
- Junior Taryn Kern led off the game against UC Davis with a home run, extending her season-opening hit streak to 10 games.
- Junior Emily Jones extended her hitting streak to nine games with a bunt single against the Aggies.
- Prystajko pitched again in the late game against Arizona, adding 1.2 hitless innings to bring her day total to 6.2 hitless innings across two games.
- Senior Allie Clements hit her first home run of the season in the seventh inning against Arizona.