No. 22 Stanford Softball Crushes NC State 11-4

Cardinal bats explode for 11 runs in dominant Friday night victory

Apr. 18, 2026 at 11:49am

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A cubist, geometric illustration depicting the dynamic action of a softball game, with overlapping planes of bright red, navy blue, and white capturing the energy and intensity of the Stanford Cardinal's victory.Stanford's offensive explosion and dominant pitching performance showcase the team's potential as they continue their push towards the postseason.Stanford Today

The No. 22 ranked Stanford softball team defeated NC State 11-4 on Friday night. The Cardinal scored 4 runs in the 1st inning and 6 more in the 3rd to build a commanding 10-0 lead. Ava Gall had a team-high 3 RBIs, going 2-for-2 at the plate. Taryn Kern also hit a solo home run to start the game. Stanford pitcher Alyssa Houston had a strong outing before being relieved by Ava Bulanti, who gave up 4 runs in the 5th inning before Zoe Prystajko closed out the game.

Why it matters

This was a key ACC matchup between two ranked teams, with Stanford improving to 28-12 overall and 13-6 in conference play. The Cardinal's offensive outburst and solid pitching performance showed their ability to dominate against a quality opponent, building momentum as they push towards the postseason.

The details

Stanford jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the 1st inning, highlighted by Taryn Kern's leadoff home run. They then erupted for 6 more runs in the 3rd to make it 10-0, with Ava Gall delivering a 2-RBI single. NC State avoided the run-rule by scoring 4 runs in the 5th, but Stanford added 1 more in the 6th to win 11-4.

  • The game was played on Friday, April 17, 2026.
  • Stanford scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 1st inning.
  • Stanford scored 6 runs in the bottom of the 3rd inning.
  • NC State scored 4 runs in the top of the 5th inning.
  • Stanford scored 1 run in the bottom of the 6th inning.

The players

Zoe Prystajko

The winning pitcher for Stanford, coming in to close out the game in relief.

Rylee Wyman

The losing pitcher for NC State, making the start.

Taryn Kern

Stanford's leadoff hitter who hit a solo home run in the 1st inning.

Ava Gall

Stanford's catcher who had a team-high 3 RBIs, going 2-for-2 at the plate.

Jessica Allister

The head coach of the Stanford softball team.

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What they’re saying

“Ooh, man, it was a great win. And actually, I think Coach Merchant did a good job. She reminded us all in the huddle because I wasn't really happy with the way it ended that it's a top 50 RPI win and we did a lot of things very well. So to come out and get that win Friday night is a big deal.”

— Jessica Allister, Head Coach, Stanford Softball

“Yeah, we did a couple of things. Obviously, you know, Taryn starting off the game with a leadoff home run. We'll never be upset about that. That was a good start and then I thought Jones did a good job and Jones and Kyra did a good job of pressuring the short game right after that and taking what they were giving us and then we strung together some hits. Put some pressure on the defense, you know, when you hit the ball in the ground, good things happen and I thought we hit the ball hard on the ground. They made some mistakes and we capitalized on them.”

— Jessica Allister, Head Coach, Stanford Softball

“Yeah, so especially in that at-bat, first pitch, I got a drop outside and she was really quick out of the glove, kind of throws off her timing a little bit. My biggest emphasis was getting on time and I saw a pitch exactly what I was looking for is just a drop, good height and so I went for it, tried to stay on a plane, and did exactly what I was looking to do.”

— Ava Gall, Catcher, Stanford Softball

“I'm really confident. I felt like my team had my back and I just got to pitch free and just play to more of my defense and like we're just moving and grooving and when I can just move and groove freely, it helps everyone out.”

— Alyssa Houston, Pitcher, Stanford Softball

“Yeah, I mean, that was awesome. We saw a glimpse of it last weekend. We were playing FSU. The bats really came alive and I think our coaches have been doing an amazing job of just really challenging us during the week. And then it really shows on the weekend. I feel like we're really prepared and it's so amazing to see everyone up and down the lineup offensively producing.”

— Ava Gall, Catcher, Stanford Softball

What’s next

Stanford and NC State will play game two of their series on Saturday, April 18th at 2:00 PM PT.

The takeaway

Stanford's dominant offensive performance and strong pitching effort showed the team's potential as they continue to build momentum heading into the postseason. The Cardinal's ability to capitalize on opportunities and get contributions up and down the lineup will be key as they look to make a deep playoff run.