Stanford Cardinal
Overall Rank: #38
Conference Rank: #5 Pac 12
Stanford will be looking to build upon last year’s run to the NCAA Tournament. Head Coach Jessica Allister was named the Pac-12 Coach of the Year in 2019 as the Cardinal won eight conference games, which is more than the previous four seasons combined. Stanford picked up signature wins last year against LSU down in Baton Rouge along with wins over Michigan and UCLA. Those wins were huge confidence boosters for the Cardinal as they ended the 2019 season with 33 wins. The Gainesville Regional didn’t go how they wanted as they went 1-2 as they lost to Boise State twice, but the experience of the postseason should only help this group moving forward.
2019: 33-20, 8-13
2019 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Jessica Allister
Key Departed Players:
Carolyn Lee, P, 3.34 ERA, 12-10 W-L, 157.1 IP, 44 BB, 108 SO
Key Returning Players:
Teaghan Cowles, UTIL, .374 BA, 6 HR, 20 RBI, 10 SB
Kristina Inouye, INF, .309 BA, 3 HR, 31 RBI
Emily Schultz, UTIL, .304 BA, 3 HR, 25 RBI
Hannah Howell, OF, .294 BA, 0 HR, 8 RBI
Montana Dixon, C/INF, .285 BA, 5 HR, 27 RBI
Emily Young, UTIL, .284 BA, 3 HR, 18 RBI
Maddy Dwyer, P, 3.15 ERA, 12-6 W-L, 91.0 IP, 33 BB, 52 SO
Kiana Pancino, P, 2.49 ERA, 7-0 W-L, 50.2 IP, 22 BB, 42 SO
Molly Millar, P, 4.74 ERA, 0-3 W-L, 20.2 IP, 9 BB, 10 SO
Nikki Bauer, P, 3.99 ERA, 2-1 W-L, 26.1 IP, 13 BB, 5 SO
Projection:
This team brings back a very experienced everyday lineup led by Teaghan Cowles who is a top returning all-around player. Cowles can hit for power as she hit six homeruns and provides the ability to hit for a high average and speed as she stole ten bases in 2019. Montana Dixon, Emily Schultz, and Kristina Inouye also provide a little bit of power as this trio combined for nine homeruns and 74 runs batted in last season. The pitching staff will have to offset the lost production of Carolyn Lee who threw 157.1 innings in 2019. Maddy Dwyer and Kiana Pancino are the most experienced pitchers that are back in 2020 as these two went a combined 19-6 in 2019. Dwyer will probably get the first opportunity to lock down the number one starter spot in the rotation as she threw 91.2 innings last season. Molly Millar and Nikki Bauer will be in the mix as well for more innings along with newcomers Tatum Boyd and Gabi Peters. Overall, with a deep offensive lineup and Coach Allister heading into year three, the 2020 season should be the year that Stanford takes another big jump and threatens the 40-win mark.
Projected Postseason: NCAA Softball Tournament
