SAN JOSE, Calif. – The No. 13 Cardinal took down Kentucky tonight 7-1 to move to 6-1 on the season, one day after falling to the Wildcats 11-7. Zoe Prystajko posted another career night in the circle, striking out 10 in a complete-game win, while the Stanford bats came alive for five runs in the final two frames.
Stanford struck first, with Taryn Kern wasting no time. The senior cranked a home run well over the right-field fence to lead off the game with a bang.
Kentucky was able to quickly answer, scoring in the top of the second. Zoe Prystajko was able to work out of a bases-loaded jam with just one out, ending the inning with just the tying run across the plate.
The Wildcats wouldn’t get as good of an opportunity again, only picking up four hits across the next five innings. Prystajko’s 10 punchouts matched a career-best set just last weekend, giving her 29 strikeouts through her first
Kern drove in another run in the fourth, driving a deep ball to center that stayed in the park for a sacrifice fly. The unearned run put the Card in front, after Emily Jones got to third on a bunt single and error.
Then in the fifth, the Card added a cushion. Jones led off with another bunt single, then came around to score when Kern tripled in the next at-bat.
Then Jade Berry crushed a ball to center, and flew around the bases for a two-run inside-the-park home run, making it a 5-1 game.
In the sixth, the Card poured on more. Jones tripled in a run, then scored on another sacrifice fly by Kern. The RBI gave Kern four runs driven in on the night, one in each of her plate appearances.
The Card is back tomorrow, hosting day three of the Cardinal Classic I at West Valley College. Stanford plays Cal State Fullerton at 2:30 p.m. PT at Viking Field, with the game broadcast on YouTube.
POSTGAME NOTES:
- Freshman Adriana Callahan made her first collegiate start, earning the nod in left field.
- Sophomore Zoe Prystajko earned her team-leading third win of the season, moving to 3-0.
- Prystajko picked up 10 strikeouts to match a career best, giving her nine or more punchouts in each of her first three games in 2026.
- Senior Taryn Kern finished 2-for-2 with seven total bases and four RBI, homering and tripling with a pair of sacrifice flies.
- Junior Jade Berry hit her first home run of the season, and first career inside-the-park homer.
- The Cardinal scored seven or more runs for the sixth-straight game.