Stanford Softball Dominates Cal in Weekend Finale

No. 18 Cardinal cap off strong opening weekend with 7-2 victory over rival Bears

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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No. 18 Stanford softball defeated Cal 7-2 on Sunday to cap off a successful opening weekend at their brand new stadium. Sophomore pitcher Zoe Prystajko had a dominant outing, striking out 10 batters in 5.0 innings of work while allowing just one hit. Stanford's offense came alive early, scoring four runs in the first inning to take control of the game. Catcher Ava Gall and shortstop River Mahler each had two hits and two RBIs for the Cardinal, who improved to 5-0 on the season.

Why it matters

This win over rival Cal caps off a strong opening weekend for Stanford softball in their new stadium. The Cardinal showed impressive depth and balance on offense, while Prystajko's pitching performance highlighted the team's strength on the mound. The victory over a top-20 opponent like Cal is an early statement that Stanford could be a force to be reckoned with this season.

The details

Stanford came out swinging in the bottom of the first, scoring four runs to take an early 4-0 lead. Ava Gall delivered a two-run double, while River Mahler and Jade Berry also drove in runs in the inning. Prystajko was in control throughout, striking out 10 batters and allowing just one hit over 5.0 innings. The Cardinal added three more runs in the third and fifth innings to extend their lead to 7-0 before Cal scored twice late to make the final score 7-2.

  • On Sunday, February 8th, No. 18 Stanford defeated Cal 7-2.
  • The game was part of the Stanford Invitational, the Cardinal's opening home showcase of the 2026 season.

The players

Zoe Prystajko

A sophomore pitcher for Stanford who improved to 2-0 on the season after pitching 5.0 dominant innings, striking out 10 batters and allowing just one hit.

Ava Gall

Stanford's catcher who had two hits and two RBIs, including a key two-run double in the first inning.

River Mahler

Stanford's shortstop who had two hits and two RBIs, including an RBI single in the third inning.

Jessica Allister

Stanford's head coach who was pleased with her team's performance, especially their ability to come out strong on Sunday after a long Saturday.

Kiki Mashhoud

Cal's pitcher who fell to 0-1 on the season after the loss to Stanford.

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What they’re saying

“Yeah, I mean, she was throwing a lot of outside, up, up, up, up, and then she burned me inside and I've been working a lot on inside this off season. So I saw the pitch, just turned on it, swung as hard as I could, and it fell right over the first baseman. I was super happy.”

— Ava Gall, Stanford catcher (on3.com)

“I think just filling the zone, trust my defense, being able to throw strikes, and yeah, see what happens after that. I think this just taking this weekend is one of like all the experience I got last year, just building on that. Learning a little bit, especially like, how I've changed over the summer and being able to take that into the next weekend.”

— Zoe Prystajko, Stanford pitcher (on3.com)

“Would have liked the run rule. We let them hang around and I think, actually, that's probably a lesson, too. You know, you let teams hang around. We play an offensive game. At some point it's gonna come back and bite you in the butt. So hopefully we can learn that lesson in a win and like, shut the door. But yes, beating Cal is always great.”

— Jessica Allister, Stanford head coach (on3.com)

What’s next

Stanford will look to build on this strong opening weekend when they host Kentucky on Thursday, February 12th at 6:00 PM PT.

The takeaway

Stanford softball showed impressive depth and balance in their opening weekend, capping it off with a dominant win over rival Cal. The Cardinal's pitching and offense were both on full display, suggesting this could be a special season for the program as they settle into their new state-of-the-art stadium.