STANFORD, Calif. – It took more than 400 pitches and nearly 4:30 to decide a winner in Stanford’s series opener against Kansas Friday night. The Jayhawks scored two runs in the 13th inning, after the Cardinal had rallied from a 2-0 deficit in the eighth, to secure a 4-2 win at Klein Field at Sunken Diamond.
“It’s a tough game to lose,” said Mark Marquess, The Clarke and Elizabeth Nelson Director of Baseball. “We pitched well enough to win, we just left way too many people on base.”
Stanford (5-8) rallied to load the bases in the 11th and 12th innings, but failed to plate the winning run, as the Cardinal left 13 runners on during the 13-inning affair.
Two Stanford hitters struck out with the bases loaded in the 11th after three of the first four batters reached. A line out, ground out and a fly out ended the 12th after Stanford had put three runners on with no outs.
The opportunities to win in the extra frames were provided to Stanford by excellent pitching. Brett Hanewich went the first 5.1 innings, while allowing no runs on three hits. He was followed by Marcus Brakeman, who went 2.2 innings and gave up two runs, one of which was unearned.
“I thought Hanewich pitched pretty well, said Marquess. “It was one of his better outings.” He continued, “I thought Brakeman did a good job coming in relief.”
Kansas (12-1) scored off Brakeman when Connor McKay sent a triple down the right field line with a runner on first. The play should have scored one, but an errant throw sent McKay all the way around to make it 2-0 in the top of the eighth.
Stanford answered the bottom half on a single through the right side from Austin Slater to drive in Brett Michael Doran, who had reached on an error and added the tying run in the ninth.
After Chris Castellanos and Sam Lindquist worked through the ninth inning to keep Kansas at two runs, Brant Whiting delivered a pinch-hit RBI single on a line drive to center field to send the game to extra innings. Alex Dunlap had started the inning with a lead-off double and pinch-runner Jack Klein came around to score.
Logan James (0-1) worked the 10th, 11th and 12th innings without allowing a Kansas hit, while Stanford could not find the winning run throughout extras. James put himself in trouble in the 10th by walking three Jayhawks, but settled down until the 13th.
The lefty went back out for the 13th, before allowing a double to right field with one out. Griffin Weir came on and two more Kansas hits allowed two runs to cross the plate.
Stanford, which had just one position player left available on its roster, went down in order in the 13th.
Jordan Piche’ (2-0) went five innings in relief to earn the win and Stephen Villines closed the game for his first save. Wes Benjamin started for Kansas and went seven innings, while giving up no runs and four hits.
Danny Diekroeger and Drew Jackson led Stanford with two hits apiece.
The two teams have a quick turnaround, as tomorrow’s second game is slated for 2 p.m. Chris Viall (1-1, 4.72) will face Kansas; Robert Kahana (1-1, 4.19).
Highlights
Notes
Stanford is 10-3 all-time against Kansas … The Jayhawks snapped a four-game losing streak against Stanford … Slater extended his career-best hitting streak to nine games … The game was the first extra-inning contest for Stanford this season … Matt Decker had his first career at-bat in the 11th … Bobby Zarubin had his first at-bat of the season in the 12th … Stanford stranded 13 runners, while Kansas left 16 on base … All 13 games between Stanford and Kansas have been played at Klein Field at Sunken Diamond … Stanford stole two bases after stealing three bases in the first 12 games … Drew Jackson tied his career high with six assists … The game was Stanford’s longest since a 5-4 loss to California in 18-inning on May 25, 2012.