STANFORD, Calif. – Tristan Beck pitched 7.0 shutout innings and Kyle Stowers hit his seventh home run of the season in a 3-1 win over Arizona State on Friday night at Sunken Diamond.
"Tristan really battled tonight, and you saw what kind of pitcher he is once he settled in a little bit," said Clarke and Elizabeth Nelson Director of Baseball David Esquer. "I thought Tristan and Nico Hoerner really stepped up tonight, and once again Stowers continues to be a big bat in the middle of the order for us."
Beck (4-2) was marvelous in 7.0 innings, scattering five hits and striking out five to earn his fourth win of the season. Needing 109 pitches, Beck made way for Jack Little. Little earned his Pac-12-leading 11th save of the season, throwing the final six outs. Little surrendered his first run of the season in the eighth, pitching out of a jam with runners on second and third with one out.
"You know it had to happen at some point," said Esquer of his closer, who pitched his first 21.1 innings of the season without allowing a run. "We've thrown Jack into a lot of different situations and tonight was another example of what a great pitcher he is."
The Cardinal got on the board in the second inning, courtesy of Kyle Stowers' seventh home run of the season. Stowers hit the first pitch he saw over the fence in right field for his fifth home run in eight games.
Stanford doubled its lead in the third, with Nico Hoerner's triple down the right-field line scoring Tim Tawa from second. Hoerner was outstanding at shortstop, making several fantastic plays including starting a tricky six-four-three double play in the top of the sixth.
The Cardinal plated an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh with Beau Branton scoring on a bases-loaded wild pitch. Tim Tawa reached base three times, and Branton, Andrew Daschbach and Maverick Handley each had one hit.
No. 2 Stanford returns to Sunken Diamond for Game 2 tomorrow at 3 p.m. PT. Live streaming and statistics will be available at GoStanford.com.
Cardinal Notes
- Handley threw out his 13th stolen base attempt – he has thrown out 13 of 19 on the season.
- The run charged to Little was his first of the season – the sophomore pitched his first 21.1 innings of 2018 without surrendering even an unearned run.
- Stowers' reached base streak extended to nine games, while Handley's stretched to eight.
- Beck's ERA lowered to 3.11 after the win.