STANFORD, Calif. – A second straight stellar Saturday start from junior Chris Castellanos led Stanford baseball to a 6-4 series-clinching victory over Pac-12 rival Cal at Sunken Diamond.
Stanford (23-19, 10-11 Pac-12) also clinched the season series with Cal, 3-2, as the two teams split their two non-conference matchups. Cal (25-18, 11-13) has still not won a season series over Stanford since 2008.
Cal scored an unearned run in the third inning when the leadoff hitter reached on an error and was bunted to second. Preston Grand Pre singled him home to give the Bears a 1-0 advantage.
Stanford tied the game in the bottom of the inning with some impressive base running from junior Jack Klein. The Cardinal centerfielder was at second when a double play ball was set to end the inning. The Bears got an out at second but the throw to first pulled the first baseman off the bag. Klein rounded third and sprinted home. The Bears did not react fast enough and Klein slid in to make it 1-1.
The Cardinal took a commanding lead in its next at-bat. Stanford sent 10-men to the plate. Junior Alex Dunlap singled home Quinn Brodey with one out to give Stanford the lead. Moments later, Klein drew a bases loaded walk, sophomore catcher Bryce Carter added an RBI ground out, and Matt Winaker plated another run with a two-out, opposite field single for a 5-1 lead.
Castellanos, who shut out No. 10 Oregon State through 6.1 innings in his last start, breezed through the first six innings against the Bears. Though Cal cut the lead in half in the seventh. Aaron Knapp scored shortly after he tripled, and the Bears then added another unearned run.
Stanford got one of those runs back in the bottom of the inning. Tommy Edman and Brodey each singled, and Dunlap added his second RBI single of the night for a 6-3 edge.
Castellanos came out for the eighth and retired the first two hitters. But a single and RBI double made it 6-4, and ended his night at 7.2 innings with two earned runs and no walks.
Junior Tyler Thorne entered with the tying run at the plate, but got a ground out to end the eighth. He then pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his third save of the year.
NOTABLES: Dunlap has reached base in 17 straight games, extending the longest of the season for a Cardinal.
NEXT UP: Two for Tuesday! Fans can buy two reserved seats for just $12 for the Tuesday matchup with Santa Clara at Sunken Diamond. First pitch with the Broncos is at 5:30 p.m.
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Postgame interview with Chris Catellanos?? https://t.co/v9PvWhT9pt
— Stanford Baseball (@StanfordBSB) May 8, 2016