March 4, 2010
DAVIS, Calif.-- Kenny Diekroeger hit a grand slam as part of a six-run sixth inning and Dean McArdle (1-0) pitched two perfect innings of relief as No. 24-ranked Stanford (5-3) defeated host UC Davis 10-6 on Thursday afternoon.
Ben Clowe finished with three hits, while Jake Stewart tripled and hit a two-run homer in the third to give Stanford an early 2-1 lead.
The Cardinal sent 11 men to the plate in the sixth after UCD led 4-2 early. UCD starter and eventual loser, Nathan Slater (1-1) had cruised until that point, giving up two runs on four hits, prior to losing the lead for good.
Slater faced the first three batters of the sixth, as a Stephen Piscotty single cut the lead to within 4-3. Reliever Michael Lewis then hit a batter to load the bases, before a bases loaded walk tied it at 4-4. Two batters later, Diekroeger's opposite field homer, his first of the year, gave Stanford an 8-4 lead.
The Aggies led 4-2 early after three runs in the third. Dean McArdle, the third pitcher of the game, then followed by retiring the next six in a row, followed by scoreless innings by Mark Appel and Chris Reed.
The Aggies though had one last gasp, closing to within 9-6 in the eighth off of three straight hits to start the inning. Alex Pracher though got an inning ending double play, followed by a scoreless ninth for his second save of the year.
Stanford continues with games against the Big West Conference this weekend, hosting UC Santa Barbara in a three-game series on Friday at 5:30 p.m and Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m.