March 9, 2013
STANFORD, Calif. - UNLV clinched its three-game series against No. 9 Stanford with a 12-2 win Saturday afternoon at Sunken Diamond. The Rebels (12-3) posted four multi-run innings and out-hit Stanford, 15-9, during the non-conference baseball matchup.
Entering the series with the Rebels, Stanford had been out-hit in seven contests but was victorious in each of those outings.
Stanford (10-4) now has dropped back-to-back games for the first time this season and looks to avoid the series sweep at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
UNLV improved its winning streak to eight games for its longest winning streak since 2009, the same season in which Stanford dropped its last non-conference home series.
Danny Diekroeger, Brant Whiting and Drew Jackson each had two hits for the Cardinal.
Whiting put Stanford on the board by scoring on Diekroeger's third-inning single down the leftfield line. Whiting singled to center to start the inning.
Staring at a 4-1 deficit in the fourth, Alex Blandino doubled down the leftfield line and scored when Whiting's second hit of the game dropped into right for a single.
UNLV put the game out of reach with a three-run fifth. The Rebels then scored a pair in the seventh and three more in the eighth.
Three Cardinal errors led to four unearned UNLV runs. Stanford starter John Hochstatter (0-1) dropped his first decision on the season, lasting 2.0 innings after being tagged for two earned runs on five hits.
Daniel Starwalt gave up five runs - four earned - on seven hits over the next 2.0 innings and Marcus Brakeman was solid by allowing one hit and two unearned runs in 3.0 frames of middle relief.
Buddy Borden (2-1) did his part for the Rebels by striking out six in 6.1 innings. Borden gave up two earned runs on seven hits and left the game in the seventh with a 9-2 lead. Kenny Oakley silenced the Cardinal with 2.2 innings of two-hit relief.
Stanford left 10 runners on base after leaving nine stranded during Friday night's 3-2 setback to the Rebels.
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