STANFORD, Calif. – Home runs by Tim Tawa and Andrew Daschbach lifted No. 8 Stanford to a series-closing 7-4 win over Michigan on Sunday at Sunken Diamond.
"You love to see big swings of the bat when we need it most," said Clarke and Elizabeth Nelson Director of Baseball David Esquer. "It's been a long week, and credit has to go to our players who battled through and came out today with lots of energy. We're looking forward to a great test on the road next week when we head to Austin."
The Cardinal (11-1) bounced back from its first loss of the season on Saturday, a 5-0 decision on the back end of a double header. Austin Weiermiller (3-0) earned the win in relief, and Jack Little picked up a nine-out save for his fifth in as many chances.
Stanford came out swinging, plating three runs in the bottom of the first, led by Tawa's leadoff home run. Tawa took advantage of a 1-2 mistake, driving it beyond the fence in a nearly identical spot to where his walk-off home run in Saturday's opener landed. Andrew Daschbach's double to left field scored Maverick Handley, and Kyle Stowers' two-out single brought home Daschbach.
After a Wolverines (3-8) home run in the top of the second, Tawa got the run back with a double off the left field wall, bringing in Beau Branton. Michigan made it a 5-4 game in the top of the seventh before Daschbach's two-run shot to left. Daschbach wasted no time at the plate, taking the first pitch out to deep left center for his third big fly of the season.
?? | Watch Andrew Daschbach's third HR of the season, giving Stanford two huge insurance runs against Michigan. Catch the finish on @Pac12Network.
— Stanford Baseball (@StanfordBSB) March 5, 2018
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Stanford returns to action on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. PT when it starts a four-game series against No. 23 Texas. The Cardinal plays Game 2 on Friday at 4:30 p.m., with Saturday's contest set for 12:30 p.m. and first pitch on Sunday at 11 a.m. All contests will broadcast live on Longhorn Network.
Cardinal Notes
- Starter Brendan Beck lasted 2.0 innings, surrendering three hits, no walks and one earned run.
- Jacob Palisch worked a scoreless 0.2 innings, lowering his ERA to 0.75.
- Little's save was his fifth of the season – he retired nine of 10 batters he faced with two strikeouts and just 37 pitches.
- Nico Hoerner served a one-game suspension on Sunday after being ejected from Saturday's second game.
- Zach Grech was credited with one run allowed, his first of the season. Grech's ERA in eight relief appearances stands at 1.17.