STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford (47-15, 14-10 Pac-12) produced one of its best seasons in school history in 2023, finishing two wins shy of a spot in the national championship series. The Cardinal made its third NCAA Women's College World Series appearance overall and first since 2004. Achieving its fifth-best win total in school history and best finish since a 48-11 campaign in 2009, the Cardinal remained a top-10 fixture all season and was ranked as high as No. 3 in several final polls. Stanford compiled a 21-game winning streak from Feb. 12-March 17, second only to winning 28 in a row from Feb. 7-March 23 in 2009.
Women's College World Series RewindStanford finished 2-2 at the NCAA Women's College World Series in its third appearance in school history (2001, 2004, 2023).
After falling 2-0 to No. 1 Oklahoma in its opener, the Cardinal rebounded with shutout wins over No. 12 Alabama (2-0) and No. 7 Washington (1-0).
In the national semifinals against No. 1 Oklahoma, Stanford was unable to hold an early 2-0 lead and was defeated 4-2 in nine innings despite pushing the defending NCAA champion Sooners to the brink.
Taylor Gindlesperger (.538 BA, 7 H, 8 TB) and NiJaree Canady (18.2 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 25 K) were named to the All-Tournament Team. Stanford is now 6-6 all-time at the Women's College World Series.
NCAA Tournament Recap
In addition to reaching the Women's College World Series, Stanford finished 7-2 overall in NCAA Tournament competition in 2023. The Cardinal swept through NCAA Regionals in its first hosting opportunity in 12 years before defeating Duke on the road in consecutive games during the NCAA Super Regional round.
Stanford owns a 54-45 record overall in NCAA competition and made its 20th appearance in program history. The Cardinal is 44-27 in NCAA Regionals, 4-12 in NCAA Super Regionals and 6-6 at the NCAA Women's College World Series.
The Cardinal advanced to NCAA Super Regionals for the seventh time overall and in back-to-back seasons for the third time in school history (2005-06, 2008-09, 2022-23). Stanford has qualified for the NCAA Tournament in four straight seasons, including a memorable 2022 campaign in which Stanford won the Tuscaloosa Regional and reached its first Super Regional since 2011.
The Cardinal has served as an NCAA Regional host on seven occasions (2001, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2023).
Conference Success
Stanford was one of three Pac-12 teams to make the NCAA Women's College World Series, joining Utah and Washington.
Stanford finished tied for fourth place in the Pac-12 at 14-10, clinching its first winning conference record since a 13-11 finish in 2013. Stanford's 14 conference victories were its most since 1998, when the Cardinal closed out its Pac-10 slate in third place at 17-11.
The Cardinal won a series five times in Pac-12 play, defeating Oregon, Oregon State, Arizona, California and Arizona State. Three of those five series wins were sweeps.
Canady's Dominant Debut
NiJaree Canady was named the TUCCI/NFCA Division I Freshman of the Year, highlighting one of the most dominant first-year campaigns in recent seasons of collegiate softball.
Also named Freshman of the Year by D1Softball and Softball America, Canady is the second player in school history to receive a major national honor, joining Ashley Hansen, who in 2011 was named the USA Softball National Player of the Year.
Arguably the nation's most elite pitcher, Canady (17-3, 33 appearances, 24 starts) led the country in ERA (0.57) and strikeouts per seven innings (11.3). Canady also ranked second in hits allowed per seven innings (3.32). Canady, who in 135.0 innings led the Cardinal with 218 strikeouts while walking only 21, threw two no-hitters while accounting for eight of Stanford's 21 shutouts, a total that ranked seventh in the country. Canady tossed 10 complete games and limited opponents to a .137 batting average. In NCAA play, Canady allowed five total runs on 16 hits in 36.0 innings with 50 strikeouts.
An All-Pac-12 First Team honoree, Canady's 18 strikeouts versus Villanova on March 3 were the most since Missy Penna's school record of 19 back on March 23, 2009 against Cal Poly.
Vawter's All-American Season
Alana Vawter was named an NFCA Second Team All-American, becoming the 17th NFCA All-American in school history and first since Kayla Bonstrom's second team nod in 2015.
Vawter (21-8, 1.81 ERA) anchored one of the most dominant pitching staffs in the nation, with the Cardinal boasting the country's best strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.41) and ranking third in ERA (1.52). A three-time NFCA All-West Region selection (2021-23) and three-time All-Pac-12 first team honoree (2021-23), Vawter started 27 games, striking out 155 hitters in 190.0 innings to go along with four shutouts. Stanford's lone Preseason All-Pac-12 Team selection, Vawter's 1.11 walks allowed per seven innings total ranked 24th in the nation.
In four seasons on The Farm, Vawter ended her career among the program's top-five in wins (4th - 77), shutouts (5th - 26), strikeouts (5th - 527) and innings pitched (5th - 679.0).
Kaneshiro's Gold Glove
Catcher Aly Kaneshiro was recognized with a Rawlings Gold Glove Award, presented by the NFCA to the top nine defensive players at their respective positions from all divisions.
An NFCA All-West Region Third Team selection and Pac-12 All-Defensive Team honoree, Kaneshiro was dynamic behind the plate. She anchored a defense showcasing a .975 fielding percentage, which ranked third in the Pac-12 and 22nd in the country. Kaneshiro effectively shut down the running game, throwing out 14 of 25 baserunners to rank tied for 21st in the nation in runners caught stealing. One of five Cardinal players to start all 62 games, Kaneshiro has also helped support one of the most dominant pitching staffs in the nation.
In addition to her defensive brilliance behind the plate, Kaneshiro led the Cardinal in home runs (7) and RBI (40). She also ranked second in total bases (81) and third in hits (47) while batting .255 and slugging .440.
Queen of ThreesThe Cardinal roped a Pac-12-best 15 triples, a total that ranked tied for 36th in the nation. Leading the way was Taylor Gindlesperger, who produced six triples in 2023 and overtook Teaghan Cowles (2017-21) to become the program's all-time leader on March 19. With 24 career triples, Gindlesperger fell three shy of the Cardinal's single-season record (8).
Gindlesperger led the team in batting average (.353), hits (72), runs (40), doubles (16), total bases (100) and stolen bases (9) while ranking sixth in school history in career steals (53).
Offensive Difference-Makers
River Mahler was impressive in her debut, ranking 12th in the Pac-12 in batting average (.353) while also ranking second on the team in hits (62). Emily Schultz was a fixture as the team's starting first baseman, hitting .292 while ranking second in RBI (29) and doubles (14). Kaitlyn Lim ranked second in runs scored (32) and fourth in batting average (.289). Sydney Steele hit .212 with three home runs and 15 RBI overall. However, Steele batted .308 with eight hits, two home runs and 6 RBI in nine NCAA Tournament games.
Largest All-Pac-12 Contingent Since 2013
Stanford was well represented among the All-Pac-12 awards, with seven individuals and 10 overall selections, the most since producing 10 and 12, respectively, in 2013.
NiJaree Canady, River Mahler and Alana Vawter booked spots on the first team, the Cardinal's most first-teamers since 2009 (Alissa Haber, Ashley Hansen, Missy Penna).
In addition to her first-team all-conference status, Mahler was named to the All-Pac-12 Defensive Team and All-Pac-12 Freshman Team – the only conference player to earn a spot on all three teams.
Young's Academic Success
Emily Young was named a CSC Academic All-America second team selection. Young owns a 3.845 GPA and graduated with a degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Young became a CSC Academic All-American for the third consecutive season. The only three-time Academic All-American in school history, Young joins Sarah Beeson (2002), Kayla Bonstrom (2015), Alissa Haber (2010), Carolyn Lee (2019) and Missy Penna (2009).
A four-time Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll recipient (2020-23), Young was also a two-time NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete honoree (2019, 2021).
Young was named an All-Pac-12 Third Team selection for the third time in 2023, earning recognition in 2019 and 2021. Young hit .270 in her final season while ranking tied for fifth on the team in hits (44) to go along with three home runs.
Allister Leads Stanford Resurgence
Stanford has displayed considerable progress each year under head coach Jessica Allister, who owns a 198-114 overall record in six seasons on The Farm.
Allister's career coaching record is 488-221 and includes a 290-107 mark during a seven-year tenure at Minnesota.
Allister has directed the Cardinal to four NCAA appearances, chalking up a 13-9 record with back-to-back NCAA Super Regional showings. Allister has guided the Cardinal to 11 NCAA appearances as a player (2001-04), assistant (2007-09) and head coach (2019, 2021-23).
Allister's staff includes Jessica Merchant, Stanford's Jessica Mendoza Associate Head Softball Coach, and Tori Nyberg, an assistant coach who works with the pitching staff.