Jan. 26, 2012

STANFORD, Calif. - The Cardinal welcomes eight freshmen to the squad this year. GoStanford.com will profile each of them throughout the season. First up, get to know infielder Erin Ashlby.

Nickname: “E”

My goals for this season are: to help the team win a national title.

A moment in my life I will always remember: losing my grandma to cancer.

The most noteworthy thing about my hometown [La Crescenta, Calif.]: the look on people’s faces when they act like they have some knowledge of where you live.

My first impression of Coach Rittman was: Tough.

Talent I would most like to have: To be able to sing.

My parents’ occupations are: Dentist and business manager.

Favorite napping spot: The new La-Z-Boy chair in our TV room at home.

The perfect meal includes: ice tea/lemonade, guacamole and salsa, macaroni and cheese, green tea ice cream and skirt steak.

The furthest from home I have ever been is: Alaska.

The first sport I ever played was: soccer.

The person I would most like to meet is: Carrie Underwood.

Since coming to Stanford, I have learned: time management is essential. Everyone has work that just has to be done.

My sports hero growing up was: Mia Hamm.

My earliest sports memory is: playing tee-ball with the boys.

I collect: shopping bags and used perfume bottles.

In my off time, I’m most likely to be found: sleeping or watching reruns of my favorite TV shows.

Something people would be surprised to know about me: I’m scared of the dark.

The best thing about Stanford is: the environment of AWESOMENESS.

My favorite movie: Remember the Titans, Seven Pounds, and The Blind Side.

My favorite TV show: Pretty Little Liars, 90210, One Tree Hill and Jerseylicious.

Favorite city: Malibu, Calif.

Ten years from now I hope to: have a family and be doing something I love.

If I had to cook all of my meals, I’d probably survive on: Hot Pockets.

Sports teams I followed when I was younger: Anaheim (at the time) Angels.

The place I’d most like to visit: Florence, Italy.

I’m afraid of: sharks and snakes.

Over the summer, I: visited Canada and went on a cruise to Alaska.

Hidden talent: Putting on screen covers without leaving a single bubble.

My favorite place that I ever visited is: Hawai'i.

My favorite place on the Stanford campus is: my room and Palm Drive.

My favorite class at Stanford has been: Rhetoric of Bio Med Ethics.

I’m most thankful for: my eyesight.

Best book I have ever read: The Great Gatsby.

My favorite thing to do on campus is: go fountain hopping (when its warm enough outside so you don’t freeze to death).

My funniest teammate is: Cassandra “Boo” Roulund.

The sport I am the worst at is: golf.

The best advice I ever received was: Control what you can control and let the rest go.

My biggest pet peeve is: people who can’t pick up their own trash.

My most embarrassing moment was: attempting to give someone a hug that apparently didn’t know me.

Stanford softball will be fun to watch this year because: we have more than talent. We have great chemistry and each other’s backs on and off the field.