March 11, 2012
STANFORD, Calif.-- Jordan Stephens (2-0) and J.T. Chargois combined on a four-hitter as No. 4-ranked Rice (13-4) salvaged the final game of the three-game series, following a 1-0 victory over No. 2-ranked Stanford (13-2) on Sunday afternoon.
Stephens pitched 6.2 shutout innings and exited after giving up his third hit, a two-out single to Eric Smith. Stephens had retired nine in a row until Stanford's first hit since the second.
Chargois though got the final out of the seventh and pitched 2.1 scoreless innings for his fourth save.
Stanford had its opportunities in the late innings. Justin Ringo singled with one out, before Chargois got Stanford's leading RBI man, Stephen Piscotty, to hit into a double play. Chargois then pitched a perfect ninth, the Cardinal's first loss to a top-10 team this year (8-1).
Stanford starter John Hochstatter (3-1) gave up one unearned run on five hits over the first 6.2 innings. Hochstatter and David Schmidt combined on a six-hitter in the loss.
Jeremy Rathjen's two-out RBI single scored Christian Stringer from second and gave Rice a 1-0 lead in the third. That run held up and gave Rice its first victory in the series.
NOTES: Two-time Heisman runner-up Andrew Luck threw out the ceremonial first pitch to fellow Houston native and Friday night starter Mark Appel. His 67 mph slider took a tough hop on Appel in the dirt... the last three Sunday games Stanford has tallied 42 runs... Center fielder Jake Stewart (back) remained out of the lineup with Justin Ringo in left and Tyler Gaffney in center for the third-straight game... Stanford is off for its finals break until March 24-26 with USC.