Cardinal Salvages Game Three

STANFORD, Calif. -- Tommy Edman drove in two runs and John Hochstatter went 7.0 innings on the mound to give the Stanford baseball team its first win of the season, 4-3, over visiting Indiana Sunday afternoon. The Cardinal rallied from a 3-2 deficit with two runs in the seventh inning.

“It’s good for us to play some close games early, some high-intensity games,” said Edman. “Obviously our pitchers have been doing a really good job of keeping us in the game even when the offense isn’t playing up to its potential.”

Hochstatter cruised through the first six innings, needing just 60 pitches, before finding trouble in the seventh. Stanford held a 2-1 lead at the time, but Indiana put together three straight hits and a sac fly to take the lead.

“Hochstatter did a great job today,” added Edman. “He threw a lot of strikes and kept the whole defense involved.”

Stanford (1-2) put Hochstatter in the win column by scoring two in the bottom of the seventh despite going hitless in the frame. Two walks opened the inning, followed by a Jack Klein sac bunt and Edman sac fly. Next, Drew Jackson bounced a ball to third that Brian Wilhite misfired up the first base line on what could have been the third out. Pinch runner Beau Branton jogged in from third with the Cardinal’s fourth run.

The Cardinal sprayed the ball all over the field against Hoosiers’ starter Jake Kelzer. The Indiana righty was lifted after allowing six hits and two runs in 4.1 innings. Edman and Austin Barr each had two hits, as Stanford outhit Indiana for the second straight day.

“I was seeing the ball well today,” said Edman. “I was working on something in my swing this morning in batting practice and obviously it turned out well. I saw some good pitches to hit and was able to put a couple good swings on them.”

Logan James relieved Hochstatter to pick up a two-inning save, the first save of his career. He was a perfect six-up, six-down with three strikeouts. James (23) and Hochstatter (71) combined to throw just 94 pitches. 

Stanford benefited from a clean game in the field, while Hochstatter and James kept the defense on its toes. It was a much-need contrast after committing four costly errors in a 4-3 (10 innings) loss Saturday night.

Indiana had already clinched the series after starting 2-0. The Cardinal and Hoosiers have split six games over the last two years, 3-3, with each team scoring 26 runs in the six contests. Only once has the winning run been scored before the seventh inning. 

Freshman right-hander Keith Weisenberg is slated to start for Stanford tomorrow against California. The rival Bears visit Klein Field at Sunken Diamond for a 1 p.m. PT tilt on Pac-12 Networks.