STANFORD, Calif. – For the second-straight game, Zoe Prystajko came on in relief and was lights-out to secure a Stanford win. The Cardinal moved to 13-6 on the season and 3-2 in ACC play, topping Pitt 5-1 at Stanford Softball Stadium. Prystajko tossed 3.2 hitless innings, striking out nine in the process.
Elena Krause earned the start in the circle for Stanford, posting a scoreless first inning before giving way to Alyssa Houston for the second and third frames. Houston struck out three, allowing just one hit and no walks.
Pitt broke the stalemate in the fourth, pushing a run across after Krause re-entered. The Panthers went ahead 1-0 on an RBI double from Gracie Helton.
Entering the fifth inning, the Cardinal had scattered two hits and five walks, leaving eight runners on base.
Then in the fifth, Stanford broke through. Kyra Chan led off with a double, coming around to score when Jade Berry crushed a ball 257’ into right for her third home run of the season. The two-run shot chased Pitt starter Bekah Duck out of the game, giving the Card a 2-1 lead.
The home team wasn’t done yet. River Mahler doubled to bring in a pair of runs, making it a 4-1 game heading into the top of the sixth.
Zoe Prystajko kept up her sharp form in the sixth, striking out the side for a shutdown inning.
In the sixth, the Cardinal added another to the lead. Kyra Chan blasted a solo home run to center, making it a 5-1 game.
Prystajko continued cruising in the seventh, striking out two to wrap the win. In her last two appearances, both out of the bullpen, Prystajko has thrown 6.2 hitless innings with 16 strikeouts and no walks.
The Cardinal and Panthers close out the three-game series tomorrow afternoon. First pitch for game three is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. PT. The game will be streamed on ACC Network Extra, and tickets are available at Tickets.GoStanford.com.
POSTGAME NOTES:
- Stanford moves to 3-2 in ACC play, clinching a series win over Pitt.
- Sophomore Zoe Prystajko improves to 6-2 on the season, leading the Card in ERA (2.15), innings (58.2), and strikeouts (87).
- Junior Jade Berry hit her third home run of the season, and 24th of her career.
- Senior Kyra Chan hit her third home run of the season as well, bringing her career total to 14.
- Senior Taryn Kern extended her hitting streak to six games.