STANFORD, Calif. – A pair of impressive pitching performances coupled with some timely hitting led the Stanford baseball team to a season-opening doubleheader sweep of 22nd-ranked Cal State Fullerton on Saturday at Sunken Diamond.
Freshman Tristan Beck's performance in Game 1 was a tough act to follow, but junior Chris Castellanos was up to the task.
In his seventh career start, Castellanos held the Titans to one run over six innings and allowed just five hits without a walk.
Stanford (2-0) gave its starter the lead in the home half of the second. Senior Jonny Locher ripped a double down the left field line and eventually scored on Jack Klein's RBI groundout.
Fullerton (0-2) scored their first and only run of the day on a single in the fifth, but the Cardinal immediately responded. Sophomore Mikey Diekroeger punched a two-out single up the middle to score Quinn Brodey and Stanford never trailed again.
Sophomore Colton Hock relieved Castellanos and retired all nine batters -- including four strikeouts -- to earn the fourth save of his career.
The two teams reconvene at Sunken on Sunday at 1 p.m.
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STANFORD, Calif. – A pair of freshmen stole the show in the season opener, and were lifted by a big solo shot from sophomore Mikey Diekroeger as Stanford shut out 22nd-ranked Cal State Fullerton, 2-0.
Tristan Beck became just the third Cardinal freshman to start on Opening Day since 1988, joining Mike Mussina and teammate Cal Quantrill. Meanwhile, freshman Nico Hoerner had two of Stanford's five hits, including a double and a run.
"I was just so excited to get the opportunity," Beck said. "Pitching on Opening Day is a huge honor and I'm thankful. I'm really just glad I could help the team get the win."
Beck allowed a leadoff single and dominated from there. In 6.1 innings, the Corona, Calif., native gave up just two hits, struck out a pair and walked just one. He retired 11 straight at one point and handed the ball to Tyler Thorne after a walk in the sixth. The junior reliever maintained Beck's scoreless outing with an inning-ending strikeout to get out of a 1st-and-2nd jam.
Stanford went ahead when Diekroeger launched one over the right field fence in the fourth. The Cardinal extended that lead in the seventh when Hoerner doubled and then scored on sophomore Quinn Brodey's two-out single to right.
Thorne closed the door from there and picked up his third career save with 2.2 innings of two-hit ball, including two strikeouts.