Prystajko, Kern Carry Cardinal to 5-1 WinPrystajko, Kern Carry Cardinal to 5-1 Win
John Lozano/isiphotos.com
Softball

Prystajko, Kern Carry Cardinal to 5-1 Win

Zoe Prystajko takes no-hitter into seventh inning

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Box Score

STANFORD, Calif. – The No. 18 Cardinal moved to 18-3 tonight, topping Cal Baptist 5-1 behind a career night from freshman pitcher Zoe Prystajko and three hits from Taryn Kern. Prystajko carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning, finishing with just one run allowed on two hits.

Allie Clements opened the scoring with a two-run single in the bottom of the third. In the top of the fourth, Prystajko struck out the side for a perfect shut down inning to keep the score at 2-0.

The Card added more to the lead in the sixth, thanks to a two-run homer from Kern after doubling in each of her first two at bats. The shot to center was her seventh of the season, leading the team and already matching her season total from all of last year.

River Mahler drove in another in the inning with an RBI single, extending her team-leading total to 25 and pushing her hitting streak to six games.

Prystajko’s no-hit bid was broken up in the seventh, with a CBU solo shot to cut the lead to 5-1. The run snapped a streak of 13.1-straight scoreless innings for the freshman. Prystajko’s outing ended with 6.2 innings pitched, allowing one run on two hits, striking out three and walking three to move to 7-1 on the season.

The Cardinal extended the perfect start to the season at home, now boasting a 13-0 record at Stanford Stadium.

The DeMarini Invitational continues tomorrow, with Stanford hosting Nevada at 2:30 p.m. PT. Tickets are available at Tickets.GoStanford.com, and the game will be streamed on ACC Network Extra.

POSTGAME NOTES:

  • Stanford moved to 18-3 (5-1) on the season.
  • The Cardinal moves to 13-0 at home to open the 2025 season.
  • Junior River Mahler extended her hitting streak to six games.
  • Mahler’s 25 RBI on the season lead the team and extend a single-season career best.
  • Junior Taryn Kern finished the day 3-for-3 with a home run, two doubles and a walk.
  • Kern’s home run was her seventh of the season, leading the team and matching her total from last season.
  • Stanford has now combined to hit 39 home runs as a team, tied for the ninth-most in a season in program history.
  • Freshman Zoe Prystajko’s three strikeouts matched a single-game career high, and her 6.2 innings pitched was the longest start of her career.