CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The No. 19 Cardinal clinched a series win at North Carolina this afternoon, defeating the Tar Heels 6-2 to move to 17-8 on the season and 7-4 in ACC play. Taryn Kern led the way with a 4-for-4 afternoon, homering for the second game in a row.
Stanford struck first, scoring an unearned run in the first inning for an early lead. Kern led off the game with a single, heading to third after a bunt single from Emily Jones and ensuing error. Kern came home on a sacrifice fly from Kyra Chan for the opening run.
Elena Krause earned the start in the circle, tossing a perfect bottom of the first for a shutdown inning.
The Card scored another in the second, thanks to three-straight two-out singles. Kern brought in the run, driving in Ava Gall from second.
North Carolina scored in the second on a solo home run to cut into the lead at 2-1. In the third, Krause put a pair of runners on via a single and fielder’s choice. The Cardinal turned to the bullpen, and Anna Brewer came in to get three-straight outs and escape the inning scoreless.
Stanford got back on the scoreboard in the fifth, thanks to Kern leading off the inning with a solo home run. The Card added two more in the inning, both scoring on a pair of errors to make it a 5-1 lead.
Brewer finished her day in the fifth, giving up the Tar Heels’ second solo home run of the day to make it 5-2. Zoe Prystajko took over in the circle, getting out of the inning with just the one run allowed.
Stanford added to the lead in the sixth, with a Kern home run on the first pitch of the inning. The long ball was her second in as many games, and ninth of the season. Kern’s perfect day at the plate makes her a combined 6-for-7 in two games against the Tar Heels. The six hits include two home runs and a double, scoring four runs and driving in three.
The 6-2 lead held, thanks to 2.2 one-hit innings of relief from Prystajko. The sophomore earned the win, striking out four and issuing a pair of walks in the scoreless outing.
Stanford and North Carolina close out the series tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. PT, with the game broadcast on ACC Network.
POSTGAME NOTES:
- The Cardinal pitching staff held their opponent to two or fewer runs for the 12th time this season.
- Senior Taryn Kern’s home run in the fifth was her second in as many games, the ninth of the season and 35th of her career.
- Kern’s 35 homers have her out of a tie and into sole possession of the fifth-most in program history.
- Sophomore Zoe Prystajko earned the win in the circle, tossing 2.2 one-hit innings of relief to move to 9-2 on the season.