Stanford softball goes 2-3 in DeMarini Invitational

Stanford softball (9-4, 0-0 ACC) began the weekend back in Stanford Softball Stadium with a heated game against No. 3 Texas (14-1, 0-0 SEC) on Friday.

Texas came out strong in the top of the first with a sacrifice fly to left field for an RBI with freshman pitcher Elena Krause in the circle.

Stanford countered in the bottom of the second with an RBI double to left field from senior outfielder Kyra Chan.

“Everybody was getting good pitches to hit, so I just wanted to capitalize and score runs for my team,” Chan said.

Texas put up three runs in the top of the third, bringing the score to 4-1. Junior pitcher Zoe Prystajko relieved Krause, who allowed two runs on two hits in 2.1 innings.

Prystajko was able to hold off the Longhorns for the rest of the game, surrendering two runs on four hits for her 4.2 innings pitched.

Stanford had a strong attempt at a comeback in the bottom of the seventh, led by freshman catcher Izzy Cacatian’s sacrifice fly to right field to bring in freshman second baseman Addyson Sheppard. Chan scored from third base on a Texas error, bringing the final score to 4-3 for a Stanford loss.

“We have a chance there to win a game, and I think if we come out and we are more ourselves, I think we walk away with the win,” said head coach Jessica Allister. “So I think it’s a missed opportunity, just in our approach.”

“I thought we were timid,” Allister said. “I don’t know where that came from. That’s not what we are, that’s not what we play best and we can be better.”

The Cardinal faced No. 16 Arizona (12-5, 0-0 Big 12) and Boise State (8-8, 0-0 Mountain West) on Saturday, falling to both.

Stanford’s only run of the 4-1 loss to Arizona came from Sheppard, who hit her first home run of the season. 

Stanford fell to Boise State 5-4, holding the Broncos to zero runs until the top of the sixth. The Broncos put up four runs in that inning against Krause before she was relieved by junior pitcher Alyssa Houston, who allowed one more. The matchup saw RBIs from sophomore first baseman Joie Economides, sophomore pinch hitter Sydney Boulaphinh and junior third baseman Jade Berry.

The Cardinal faced Boise State a second time on Sunday, and the game was scoreless for the first six innings. After the Broncos put up two runs in the top of the seventh, Stanford had one last chance for a win. 

Berry hit a single for a two-run RBI, tying up the game. With two runners on base, Economides singled for a walk-off RBI, earning the Cardinal their first win of the weekend.

Stanford rode their newfound momentum into their last game of the DeMarini Invitational against Santa Clara (6-9, 0-0 WCC). In a game that ended after six innings, the Cardinal run-ruled Santa Clara in a game that concluded 11-3. 

The game saw an RBI from senior shortstop River Mahler, two RBIs from Cacatian, one from senior center fielder Emily Jones, two from Boulaphinh, three from senior first baseman Taryn Kern and two from Economides.

The Cardinal ended the weekend 2-3 in their first set of games back in Stanford Softball Stadium.

Stanford played last weekend’s Cardinal Classic I tournament at various Bay Area stadiums due to complications with Santa Clara County regarding permits for the new Stanford Softball Stadium. The Cardinal permanently returned to the stadium this weekend.

“I’m just really grateful to play at the stadium with my best friends,” Chan said, “and sometimes when you’re away, it makes you just appreciate it more.”

“It’s wonderful to be back,” Allister said. “It’s my favorite place in the world, so it’s great to be back.”

Up next, Stanford travels to Louisville to begin ACC play this weekend.

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