May 16, 2010
STANFORD, Calif.-- Washington State (28-18, 11-10 Pac-10) scored seven runs in the top of the ninth to win the series at No. 25-ranked Stanford (27-20, 11-10 Pac-10) 9-3, catching the Cardinal in the standings in a tie for third place in the Pac-10 Conference.
Alex Pracher (6-4), trying for the three inning save, instead gave up all seven runs, to take the loss.
Shea Vucinich's two-run triple followed by an RBI single by Matt Argyropoulos, made it 5-3, before a grand slam by Michael Weber, his second homer of the game, made it 9-3.
Pracher had pitched two perfect innings until a leadoff single by Matt Fanelli ignited a five-hit inning. An error by second baseman Colin Walsh led to five of the runs be unearned. Connor Lambert (4-1) got the win, pitching the final two scoreless innings for the win.
Cardinal starter Dean McArdle did not allow a run until Weber chased him from the game with a two-run homer in the sixth to make it 3-2.
After retiring 17 of 19, McArdle gave up a two-out walk, and Weber's homer, to finish off his longest career outing. At one point the freshman retired nine in a row as he tied his career-high with six strikeouts, giving up two runs on three hits.
Kenny Diekroeger's infield single to the right side of the infield, extended his hit streak to 21 games, and gave Stanford a 1-0 lead, after first baseman Weber's flip went over the first base bag allowed Stephen Piscotty to score from second. Piscotty finished a triple short of the cycle with three hits.
Solo homers added to the lead as Piscotty's shot in the fourth (3) and Tyler Gaffney's shot in the fifth (1), both to left, made it 3-0.
Adam Conley went the first 7.0 innings for the Cougars, giving up three runs on eight hits after closing out Saturday's contest a double play ball.
The Cardinal host Hawai'i on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. before heading to Arizona next weekend.
NOTES: Centerfielder Jake Stewart robbed Garry Kuykendall of extra bases with a diving catch in left center in the sixth... in 11 previous Sundays, Stanford starters have combined to go 2-4 with a 7.14 ERA. McArdle was the fifth Sunday starter this season... WSU's Weber homered for the second and third time on the weekend.