STANFORD, Calif. – Freshman Tristan Beck struck out a career-high 11 batters, but Stanford baseball was edged in the series opener with Arizona State, 3-2, on Friday night at Sunken Diamond.
Beck is the first Stanford pitcher with 11 strikeouts since Mark Appel -- the first overall pick in the 2013 MLB Draft -- did so on May 17, 2013 vs. Cal. Beck held the Sun Devils to just five hits in 6.1 innings, but the three earned runs were enough for the visitors.
Arizona State started the scoring in the second. The Sun Devils capitalized on a leadoff walk and put together two singles in the inning to go up, 1-0.
Stanford scored the next two though. The Cardinal tied the game in the third when junior centerfielder Jack Klein doubled into the gap in right center and scored on Tommy Edman's two-out single to left.
In the fourth, sophomore third baseman Mikey Diekroeger tripled to right center and touched home on a sacrifice fly from Quinn Brodey.
The Sun Devils slipped two more across in the seventh. A leadoff single, followed by a bunt and another single tied the game. After another single, Beck was relieved by sophomore Colton Hock, and a sacrifice fly scored the go-ahead run.
The Cardinal had a man on in the eighth and ninth, but Seth Martinez, who threw a complete game for the Sun Devils, held the Cardinal to six hits on the night and struck out three.
NEXT UP: Stanford and Arizona State return to Sunken Diamond for a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. The first 500 fans receive free ice cream in a mini Stanford helmet. Following Sunday's game at 1 p.m., the players will be available for postgame autographs.
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A photo posted by Stanford Baseball (@stanfordbsb) on Apr 22, 2016 at 6:01pm PDT
.@t_beck07 is the first Cardinal with 11 strikeouts since @MAppel26 (2013 MLB No. 1 overall pick) on 5/17/13 v. Cal pic.twitter.com/fyYlzuXdgI
— Stanford Baseball (@StanfordBSB) April 23, 2016