Busy Week Begins WednesdayBusy Week Begins Wednesday
Karen Ambrose Hickey/Stanford Athletics
Softball

Busy Week Begins Wednesday

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Stanford (21-4) vs. Saint Mary's (7-21)
Wednesday • 4 p.m. PT • Stanford, Calif.
Live Stream • Stanford Live Stream
Live Statistics • GoStanford.com

Wednesday • 6 p.m. PT • Stanford, Calif.
Live Stream • Stanford Live Stream
Live Statistics • GoStanford.com

QUICK HITS
» Stanford carries a #24 ranking according to USA Softball ... owns the #18 RPI in the nation this week ... is receiving votes in the latest USA Today/NFCA (32) poll ... earned a national ranking (#22 according to Softball America) on March 5 for the first time since April 1, 2014 (#24 in NFCA and USA Softball) ... won a two-game series at Cal for it's first Pac-12 series win since sweeping Cal from May 3-5, 2013 ... has had 13 games decided by two or fewer runs this year (11-2), including going 8-2 in one-run contests ... won 12 straight games from February 21-March 8 ... 12-game win streak was the longest since the 2014 squad began the year 13-0 ... 21-4 start is the best since 2012 (22-3) ... has delivered 47 two-out RBI and is batting .286 (62x217) when hitting with two out ... is 10-for-25 (.400) with the bases loaded (2 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR) ... has put the leadoff hitter on base 41% of the time (64-for-157) ... leads the Pac-12 in triples (14) and is third in the nation in triples per game (.56) ... 14 triples are tied for fifth in Stanford single-season record book ... has scored first in 17 of the 25 games this year, and is 16-1 when scoring first ... has swiped 34 bases in 39 attempts to place fifth in the Pac-12 in stolen bases ... ranks fourth in the Pac-12 in ERA (2.05) ... is 2-0 against ranked opponents this year ... is 12-0 when hitting a home run this year.
» Whitney Burks has homered in three of her last four games, including back-to-back contests ... is hitting .429 (3x7) with five runs scored, two homers, five RBI and four walks over her last three games played ... has batted .563 with three homers and 10 RBI over her last six games played ... is batting .387 (12x31) with runners aboard.
» Teaghan Cowles was named Pac-12 and Louisville Slugger/NFCA National Player of the Week on March 5 after hitting .818 with an .889 OB% and 1.455 SLG% at the Stanford Invitational ... raised her batting average 102 points over five games from March 1-3 (.271 to .373) ... hit safely in 10 straight games from February 22-March 8 (.500, 15x30, 16 R, 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBI) ... is fourth in the Pac-12 in triples (3) ... is hitting .452 (14x31) with 11 runs scored, two triples, a homer and three stolen bases over the last 10 games.
» Montana Dixon reached in 10 straight games from February 22-March 8 ... has been hit by six pitches this year to rank fourth in the Pac-12 ... is hitting .393 (11x28) with runners in scoring position ... is 12-for-28 (.429) when hitting with two out ... is batting .467 (7x15) with four runs scored, a double, a homer and three RBI over the last five games.
» Maddy Dwyer is 6-2 with a 2.12 ERA and one save over 12 appearances (11 starts) ... ranks eighth in the Pac-12 in ERA.
» Taylor Gindlesperger is a perfect 6-for-6 in stolen bases.
» Alyssa Horeczko is a perfect 9-for-9 in stolen bases ... ranks sixth in the Pac-12 in stolen bases ... is hitting .367 (11x30) with runners on base.
» Hannah Howell has reached safely in 15 of her 17 games played ... batting .471 (8x17) and reaching at a .471 clip over the last five games.
» Kristina Inouye is 13-for-32 (.406) with runners in scoring position ... launched a grand slam vs. Cal Poly on March 3 ... is fourth in the Pac-12 in triples (3).
» Emily Klingaman ranks ninth in the Pac-12 in triples (2) ... has reached base in 23 of her 25 games played this year, including 11 straight.
» Carolyn Lee ranks fifth in the Pac-12 in ERA (1.58) ... is 3-1 with a 1.22 ERA over her last four starts, striking out 23 in 23 innings of work.
» Kiana Pancino is 6-0 with five saves and a 1.69 ERA over 16 appearances (one start) ... leads the Pac-12 and is second in the nation in saves (5) ... ranks sixth in the Pac-12 in ERA.
» Emily Young connected for a two-out inside-the-park grand slam in the bottom of the third against Seattle University on February 9 ... is fourth in the Pac-12 in triples (3) ... was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Week on March 5 ... is hitting .464 (13x28) with three doubles, two triples and seven runs scored over the last 10 games.

THIS WEEK
Stanford faces a busy week of competition as it welcomes Saint Mary's to campus on Wednesday for a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m. The Card will then host Oregon in Pac-12 play beginning on Friday at 7 p.m. Stanford is scheduled to play seven games in the next seven days, concluding with a doubleheader against Sac State on April 2.

LAST TIME OUT
Stanford won its first Pac-12 series since 2013 last week, sweeping a rain-shortened two-game series at California. The Cardinal scored 20 runs while batting .385 as a team. Senior Whitney Burks launched a pair of home runs, finishing the two games batting .750 (3x4) with the two homers, five runs scored, five RBI and four walks.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS
» Stanford faculty/staff members can claim up to four (4) tickets to the March 27 doubleheader against Saint Mary's by participating in the BeWell program and completing their SHALA.

WINS FOR THE AGES
Stanford ended a few droughts over the weekend at California, picking up its first win over Cal since earning a 14-13 win on March 14, 2014. Sunday's comeback victory also secured the Card's first Pac-12 series win since sweeping Cal from May 3-5, 2013.

SCOUTING THE GAELS
Saint Mary's enters the week sporting a 7-21 overall record and riding a five-game losing streak. The Gaels dropped the final game of a doubleheader to Marist on Thursday before being swept in three games at CSUN. SMC then played #1 UCLA on Sunday, falling 9-1 in five innings. Dylan Linton leads the team offensively, batting .291 to guide Saint Mary's to a .224 team average. Kalissa Heihn has launched three homers to pace the squad in the category, while Bailey Lotz has scored 13 runs. The Gael pitching staff has pitched to a 5.06 ERA, led by Eryn McCoy at 4.84 over 68 innings of work. Sonja Garnett is in her first season at the helm of the program.

QUITE THE LEADER
Junior Teaghan Cowles has emerged as a stellar leadoff option at the top of the order, hitting first in each of the 25 games this year. Cowles is hitting a team-best .376 overall, including .388 (19x49) with the bases empty. Furthermore, she is reaching at a .543 clip (19x35) when leading off an inning. In true leadoff at bats to start a game, Cowles is hitting .348 (8x23) with two home runs and a triple.

EARLY RUNS
Stanford is outscoring opponents, 28-4, in the first inning this year. The Card has hit .318 (34x107) with six doubles, four triples and four homers in the opening stanza. Reaching base at a .403 clip, Stanford has also drawn 14 walks. On the other side, Stanford's pitching staff has amassed a 1.12 ERA over the 25 first innings. Including a 17-7 advantage in the second inning, Stanford is outscoring opponents, 45-11, in the first two frames.

TWO-OUT HITTING
Stanford is hitting .286 (62x217) with two out this year, as three players with at least 15 at bats are batting .340 or better in the situation. Junior Montana Dixon paces the way, connecting for a blistering .429 average (12x28), followed by Hannah Howell (.412) and Teaghan Cowles (.348). Digging deeper into the clutch situation, the Card has delivered 47 two-out RBI, including nine from Dixon and eight from Whitney Burks. Dixon is hitting .563 (9x16) with two doubles, a homer and nine RBI when batting with two out and runners in scoring position, guiding Stanford to a .272 average as a team.

COWLES NAMED PAC-12 & NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
After batting .818 to guide Stanford to a 5-0 record the previous week, junior Teaghan Cowles was tabbed Pac-12 and Louisville Slugger/NFCA National Player of the Week on March 5. The National Player of the Week selection was the first for the Cardinal since Kelsey Stevens captured the honor from the NFCA on February 26, 2013. Cowles, who shared the honor with NC State's Brigette Nordberg, also became the ninth player in Stanford history to claim a National Player of the Week selection. Cowles went 9-for-11 over the five games, including a victory over then-No. 23 Northwestern on March 1. Serving as the leadoff hitter in the order, she reached base at an .889 clip and slugged 1.455 while collecting 11 runs scored, two triples, a homer and two RBI. Cowles' on-base percentage was strengthened further by six walks and one hit-by-pitch. Once aboard, Cowles was 3-for-3 in stolen base attempts. The native of Ridgefield, Wash. batted 3-for-3 with four runs scored, a double, a homer and two RBI against Montana on March 1, finishing a double short of the cycle. She closed the week with a perfect 2-for-2 day on March 3 against Cal Poly, scoring four times and drawing three walks – two intentional. All told, Cowles reached safely in 16 of 18 plate appearances, including 15 of her final 16.

YOUNG TABBED TOP FRESHMAN
Freshman Emily Young garnered Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors on March 5, marking the first selection for a Stanford player since Teaghan Cowles was tabbed following the first week of the 2017 season. Young batted .462 (6-for-13) with three runs scored, two doubles, a triple and three RBI en route to being named Freshman of the Week. Stanford's starting shortstop posted a pair of multi-hit games, including finishing 2-for-2 with a double, a triple and three RBI against Montana on March 1. The native of Mason, Ohio closed the week by batting 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a double in Stanford's 13-5 victory over Cal Poly on March 3. Over the course of five Stanford victories, Young compiled a .769 slugging percentage and a .462 on-base percentage.

DON'T RUB IT
Stanford led the Pac-12 in hit by pitches in 2018, drawing 56. That trend has leaked a bit into 2019, as the Card has been hit by 18 pitches so far this season to rank fifth in the Pac-12. Junior Montana Dixon leads the way with six hit by pitches, placing fourth in the Pac-12.

SIXTH INNING IS BIG
Stanford's 5-0 record at the LSU Invitational was highlighted by big sixth innings. The Card outscored opponents 14-2 in the sixth inning that weekend, including posting seven runs in the sixth against #7 LSU and six more against Michigan. Overall this season, Stanford is outscoring opposition 27-10 in the sixth.

ALLISTER AT TIGER PARK
While she is 5-0 at LSU's Tiger Park as head coach of Stanford, Jessica Allister's success in that venue precedes her move to The Farm. Allister went 9-0 over two trips to Baton Rouge while leading Minnesota, finishing 5-0 in 2014 and 4-0 in 2017, to accumulate a 14-0 overall record at one of the toughest venues to play in the nation.

HAVE A DAY, INOUYE
Junior infielder Kristina Inouye guided the way for Stanford offensively on Opening Day, finishing the two games hitting .833 (5-for-6) with two runs scored, a double, a triple and nine RBI. She slugged 1.333 and reached at an .857 clip. Overall on the weekend, Inouye batted .467 and drove in a Pac-12 best 11 runs while slugging .867. The native of Huntington Beach, Calif. posted 25 RBI a year ago, but already owns 22 through 25 games this year. She has twice totaled five-plus RBI this season, notching six on February 8 vs. Kansas, and five against Cal Poly on March 3 - four coming by way of a grand slam.

MAKE IT A TRIPLE
Teaghan Cowles had six triples in 2018, tying for second all-time for a single season in Stanford program history. It was the most in a year since Cassandra Roulund also had six in 2013. Cowles did not triple over the first three weekends of this season, but recorded a pair in five games played at the Stanford Invitational. With the three in 2019, Cowles has racked up 13 triples in her first three years on The Farm - third-most all-time. It seems the triple has become contagious in 2019, as Stanford has already racked up 14 through 25 games this year to lead the Pac-12 and place third in the NCAA in triples per game. The 14 triples rank tied for fifth in the Stanford single-season record book.

STOLEN BASE A STAPLE
Stanford's offense got a serious boost from its success on the basepaths last year, ranking fourth in the Pac-12 with 55 stolen bases in 67 attempts. In fact, the Cardinal's 55 steals were more than the entire production from the last three seasons combined (8-10 in 2017, 4-5 in 2016 and 22-26 in 2015 for a total of 34 steals in 41 tries). The running game was anchored by Teaghan Cowles, who was fifth in the conference going 18-19. Alyssa Horeczko was 12-16, ranking ninth in the Pac-12, to give Stanford two players with at least 10 steals for the first time since 2014. The Card has seemingly picked up where it left off, swiping 34 bases in its first 39 attempts this year. Horeczko is 9-for-9, freshman Taylor Gindlesperger is 6-for-6, and Cowles is 6-for-7 to lead the way.

BURKS LAUNCHES A PAIR
Senior Whitney Burks connected for a pair of home runs in the season-opener on February 8 against Bradley. The team leader in home runs with five in 2018, Burks wasted no time getting her first in 2019, sending a leadoff shot out to straight-away centerfield in the second inning before capping an eight-run seventh with a three-run home run. The native of Fairfax Station, Va. finished the game 2-for-3 with two runs scored, the four RBI and a pair of walks. The multi-homer game was the first of Burks' career, and the first for the Cardinal since Kylie Sorenson hit a pair at Hawaii on March 4, 2016.

A LOOK  BACK
Stanford finished the 2018 season with a 24-31 overall record and a 3-21 mark in the Pac-12. It was the most overall and conference wins for the Cardinal since 2014. In fact, after the first weekend of conference play, Stanford had already exceeded its win total from 2017. The Cardinal reached the 20-win mark for the first time since 2014. Among Stanford's highlights were a six-game winning streak in March, the Cardinal's longest since a 13-game unbeaten stretch to open 2014. The Cardinal also earned wins over UCLA and Arizona in the same season for the first time since 2013.

CARD PICKED EIGHTH IN PRESEASON POLL
Stanford has been chosen by the conference coaches to finish eighth in the stacked Pac-12 Conference this season, the league announced on February 5. UCLA, which received five first-place votes and totaled 61 points overall, edged Washington as the favorite to win the Pac-12 title. Washington received four first-place votes and 60 overall points. The Bruins and Huskies are ranked first and second, respectively, in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top-25 poll to open the season. Arizona is tabbed third with 50 points, followed by Arizona State in fourth with 43 points. California and Oregon State share fifth with 31 points, followed by Utah (19), Stanford (17), and reigning Pac-12 Champion Oregon (12) to round out the poll.

FOWKES, WHITE NAMED TO ISRAELI NATIONAL TEAM
Senior outfielder Molly Fowkes was added to the Israeli National Softball Team on January 23, joining a squad that already includes former Stanford standout Leah White. Fowkes, White and their teammates will compete at the European Championships in late June. The top six teams will then move on to compete at an Olympic Qualifying tournament in July. In order to play for Israel, athletes are required to have at least one Jewish parent or grandparent and must travel to Israel to receive dual citizenship.

ALL-REGION RECOGNITION
Teaghan Cowles and Hannah Howell earned National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-West Region third team honors at third base and outfield, respectively, last season. It was the first career honor for both Cowles and Howell.

ACADEMIC ACCOLADES
Stanford led the Pac-12 with nine all-academic picks last year. Carolyn Lee, Victoria Molina and Lauren Wegner were selected to the first team, while Whitney Burks, Teaghan Cowles and Arden Pettit landed on the second team. Alyssa Horeczko, Hannah Howell and Kristina Inouye were honorable mention. Additionally, Lee was a CoSIDA Academic All-District pick.

SINGLE SEASON MARKS
Stanford's 17 triples and .974 team fielding percentage from 2018 both matched the third-best output in a single season in program history, while the Cardinal's 55 stolen bases tied for 10th. Individually, Teaghan Cowles's 18 stolen bases tied for the ninth-best mark in a single season.

ALLISTER RETURNS TO THE FARM
Jessica Allister completed her first season at the helm after being named the Cardinal's fourth head coach on July 18, 2017. Allister arrived on The Farm after serving as the head coach at Minnesota for seven seasons, compiling a 290-107 (.730) overall record. Allister led the Gophers to unprecedented heights in 2017, registering a program-best 56-5 record and earning the first No. 1 national ranking in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches poll in program history. A second-team All-American in 2004 and three-time all-conference selection, Allister helped guide the Cardinal to four NCAA Women's College World Series appearances in 2001 and 2004. A four-year starting catcher, Allister holds the school record for most games played (266) and graduated among the top-10 in numerous career categories.

MILESTONE FOR ALLISTER
Head coach Jessica Allister registered her 300th career win against Santa Clara on Feb. 25, 2018. Now in her eighth season as a head coach, Allister holds a 314-138 (.695) career record.