April 5, 2013
LOS ANGELES - Brant Whiting's first career home run could not have come at a better time.
Whiting's three-run shot in the sixth provided the answer for USC's two-run fifth and bolted No. 25 Stanford to a 4-2 win over the Trojans Friday at Dedeaux Field.
The Pac-12 Conference affair improved Stanford's overall record to 15-9 (4-3 Pac-12) as the Cardinal looks to clinch the series with USC (11-18, 4-6) at 2 p.m. (PT) on Saturday. Live video, audio and stats will be available at GoStanford.com.
Whiting and the Cardinal out-hit USC, 8-7, with Mark Appel (5-2) delivering seven strikeouts in 8.2 innings for the win. Appel did not walk a batter until the ninth and left two on for A.J. Vanegas to get the final out for his third save in as many chances.
Austin Slater had a team-high two hits and scored an insurance run for the Cardinal in the seventh.
Wayne Taylor hit a one-out single in the first and got to third on a wild pitch and Austin Slater groundout. USC starter Sean Silva got the next two outs to leave Taylor at third.
Silva came into the game having thrown 7.0 innings with an 11.57 ERA in six appearances. Silva was replaced by Brooks Kriske (0-2) in the fourth, with Kriske giving up three earned runs on three hits in 2.1 innings.
USC left a runner in scoring position when A.J. Ramirez had a single in the second and went to second on a groundout.
Seeing his first action since the season opener at Rice, Austin Wilson worked the count to 3-2 and drew a walk to start the third. Wilson was left on base along with Ragira, who reached courtesy of a walk.
Stanford put another leadoff runner aboard on Justin Ringo's fourth-inning single up the middle. Lonnie Kauppila stroked a two-out single and Wilson went down on strikes to end the inning.
The fourth for USC started with Adam Landecker lining a single past Appel's ear. Appel fanned Blake Lacey and Whiting threw out Landecker stealing second to help keep the Trojans scoreless.
A bloop single from Ramirez in the fifth went for USC's third hit. Kevin Swick's soft single barely made it by a diving Kauppila at short. Appel moved both runners ahead with a wild pitch and Timmy Robinson's two-out double to left gave USC a 2-0 lead.
Alex Blandino walked and Danny Diekroeger singled to center in the sixth. Kauppila moved both runners ahead with a sacrifice bunt. The count went from 3-0 to 3-2 on Dominic Jose before he went down swinging.
Whiting took a 3-2 pitch to right for a three-run homer to give Stanford a 3-2 advantage.
Kauppila made a gorgeous backhand play in the hole and threw on the run to get Ramirez at first to close the sixth.
Appel did not walk a Trojan until issuing a two-out pass in the ninth. Vanegas threw five pitches to one batter to earn the save with the winning run at the plate.
Stanford left 10 stranded.
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