STANFORD, Calif. – Kris Bubic did not allow an earned run for his second straight start and Stanford evened the series with Oregon after a 5-1 win on Friday night at Sunken Diamond.
"In all my years playing and coaching, this was one of the best pitching performances I have ever seen," said Clarke and Elizabeth Nelson Director of Baseball David Esquer. "You saw what Kris had to get through in the first couple innings, so for him to settle in and take it to this lineup was really impressive."
The Cardinal (19-3 overall, 4-1 Pac-12) needed a strong start from Bubic (5-0) after its third loss of the season on Thursday night at the hands of the Ducks (15-10, 3-5). The junior went a season-high 7.1 innings with nine strikeouts, which also tied a season high. Bubic's lone blemish came in the second inning, an unearned run – it was the first run plated with Bubic on the mound since March 8.
Maverick Handley enjoyed an outstanding day defensively, throwing out both of the Ducks' stolen base attempts, also doubling up a runner at first to end the top of the sixth.
M6 | @MaverickHandley punishes a long secondary lead by Oregon to double up the runner at first after @KrisBubic's 6th K.
— Stanford Baseball (@StanfordBSB) March 31, 2018
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Nick Brueser, who started at first base, finished with a career-high three hits, scoring two runs on two Beau Branton RBI singles. Branton finished 2-for-3, upping his average to .357. Branton's single to center tied it up in the third before his RBI single to left field in the fifth to make it 2-1, Stanford.
Jack Little replaced Bubic with one out in the eighth, going on to earn his eighth save of the season – Little has yet to allow a run in 18.2 innings of work this season.
Tim Tawa and Nico Hoerner finished with one hit and one run apiece, and Andrew Daschbach, Will Matthiessen and Kyle Stowers finished with one RBI each. After Hoerner was intentionally walked, Daschbach ripped one to left on the first pitch to score Tawa, stretching Stanford's lead to 3-1.
Stowers and Matthiessen each drove in an insurance run in the eighth – Matthiessen's came by way of a fielder's choice while Stowers beat Oregon's defensive shift to drive in Hoerner.
B3 | Watch @BeauBranton's RBI single to tie this one up at Sunken Diamond. @nick_brueser set the table with a leadoff single and a stolen base.
— Stanford Baseball (@StanfordBSB) March 31, 2018
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"We got off to a rough start so we just had to remind ourselves we're really going to have to earn it tonight," added Esquer. "Hats off to Nick and Beau tonight for stepping up when we need it most."
The Cardinal returns tomorrow at 1 p.m. PT for the rubber match with Erik Miller expected to start. Kolby Somers will throw for the Ducks with live streaming and statistics available at GoStanford.com.
Cardinal Notes
- Bubic had 49 pitches through two innings, needing 61 pitches over the next 5.1.
- Bubic's ERA lowers to 0.96 – he has a team-high 42 strikeouts in 37.2 innings pitched.
- Maverick Handley has thrown out eight of 13 stolen base attempts against him this season.
- Stanford has won Bubic's last 14 starts, dating to April 13, 2017.
- Little's ERA stands at 0.00 – he has not allowed a run this season, striking out 21 in 18.2 IP and surrendering only 10 base runners (six hits, four walks).