No. 24 Stanford Softball Stuns No. 5 Florida State With Walk-Off Grand Slam

Freshman Addyson Sheppard's heroics cap off thrilling comeback victory for the Cardinal.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 11:36am

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A fragmented, geometric painting in bold shades of red and garnet, depicting the dynamic action and emotion of a high-stakes college softball game.A cubist interpretation of the dramatic final moments of the Stanford-Florida State softball showdown, capturing the intensity and energy of the game-winning grand slam.Stanford Today

In a dramatic comeback, the No. 24 Stanford softball team defeated the No. 5 Florida State Seminoles 9-8 on Friday night. Trailing 8-5 in the bottom of the 7th inning, the Cardinal rallied to load the bases, setting the stage for freshman Addyson Sheppard to hit a game-winning grand slam and secure the upset victory.

Why it matters

This win over a highly ranked opponent showcases the resilience and talent of the Stanford softball team, which has faced some ups and downs this season. The dramatic fashion of the comeback, capped by Sheppard's heroics, will provide a major confidence boost as the Cardinal continue their conference play.

The details

Stanford jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the 1st inning, but Florida State evened the score at 2-2 in the 6th. The Seminoles then exploded for 6 runs in the top of the 7th to take an 8-5 advantage. However, the Cardinal responded in the bottom half, loading the bases for Sheppard, who crushed a grand slam to win the game. Taryn Kern also hit a 3-run homer for Stanford in the 6th inning.

  • The game was played on Friday, April 10, 2026.
  • Stanford and Florida State will face off again on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 7:00 PM PT.

The players

Addyson Sheppard

A freshman on the Stanford softball team who hit the game-winning grand slam in the bottom of the 7th inning to defeat Florida State.

Taryn Kern

A Stanford softball player who hit a 3-run home run in the bottom of the 6th inning to give the Cardinal a 5-2 lead.

Jessica Allister

The head coach of the Stanford softball team, who praised her team's resilience and ability to bounce back after falling behind late in the game.

Jazzy Francik

The ace pitcher for Florida State, who came in to try and close out the game in the 7th inning but was unable to do so.

Ava Bulanti

The winning pitcher for Stanford, who came in to record the final out in the 7th inning after the Seminoles had taken an 8-5 lead.

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What they’re saying

“I heard you say to Sheppard it was a roller coaster of a day and I think it was absolutely, you nailed it, it was a roller coaster of a day and it was nice to end it on the high note.”

— Jessica Allister, Stanford Head Coach

“What did I see? You know, I got up first three times and she was covering me up, so I was just ready to get in there again, make my adjustment, and get it done for the team.”

— Taryn Kern, Stanford Softball Player

“Kind of same with Taryn, they kind of got me, like my first at-bat and I knew that was just a moment where I really needed to be there for my team. And it really just helped to have them be supportive of me and I knew I had confidence when I got up there.”

— Addyson Sheppard, Stanford Softball Player

What’s next

The two teams will face off again on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 7:00 PM PT, with the game being broadcast on ESPN.

The takeaway

This thrilling comeback victory showcases the resilience and talent of the Stanford softball team, which was able to overcome a late deficit against a highly ranked opponent. The heroics of freshman Addyson Sheppard will provide a major confidence boost as the Cardinal continue their conference play.