March 19, 2010
STANFORD, Calif.-- Zach Jones delivered the game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth, finishing of a wild night at Sunken Diamond, prevailing in a 9-8 victory for No. 23-ranked Stanford (8-4) over visiting Pepperdine (6-10).
Stanford's pitching staff combined to walk 10 and hit another four batters, as all eight of Pepperdine's runs scored because of free passes, leading to 7-3 and 8-5 leads for the Waves.
Stanford mounted the winning rally in the ninth, after Jake Stewart led off the inning with a leadoff walk from Aaron Gates (0-1). Ben Clowe, who had squared to bunt earlier in the at-bat, instead delivered a single to right, putting runners on the corners with no outs. Jones then took a 2-2 to left for the winning hit, the Cardinal's fourth walk-off hit of the season. Jones finished going 4-for-5, while Tyler Gaffney added two hits from the leadoff spot.
Alex Pracher (3-0) got his third win out of the bullpen with a scoreless ninth.
Stanford tied the game with three runs in the eighth, as a bases loaded walk to Stephen Piscotty tied the game at 8-8, after Pepperdine starter Cole Cook went the first seven innings, giving up five runs (two earned), and staking his bullpen to an 8-5 lead.
Pepperdine scored four runs in the seventh to lead 7-3, as reliever Chris Jenkins walked the first three, followed by a bases loaded walk by Dean McArdle to break a 3-3 tie. A two-run pinch-hit double by Brian Humphries made it 6-3, before a squeeze play gave the Waves its seventh run.
Leadoff walks from starter Brett Mooneyham led to single runs in each of the first three innings. Mooneyham struck out five over the first five innings.
Saturday's game at 2 p.m will feature Jordan Pries for Stanford and Matt Bywater for Pepperdine. Sunday's finale is at 1 p.m.