Series ClinchedSeries Clinched
Bob Drebin / isiphotos.com
Baseball

Series Clinched

Box Score

STANFORD, Calif. – No. 3 Stanford clinched the series win over Washington State with a 9-6 win on Saturday at Sunken Diamond.

"We would have liked to have seen it off a little quicker but wins are wins," said Clarke and Elizabeth Nelson Director of Baseball David Esquer. "Kris Bubic gave us a really nice outing today, really dialing in that change up, and Nico Hoerner continues to get better and better as the season goes on. He's peaking at the right time and this group follows his lead."

Hoerner led the Cardinal (42-8 overall, 20-6 Pac-12) by tying a career high with four hits and Andrew Daschbach hit his 15th home run of the season, finishing 3-for-4 with four RBI. Starting pitcher Bubic (8-1) earned the win, tying a season high with nine strikeouts – he exited after 5.2 innings, allowing just two hits and two walks.

Hoerner's infield single to score Branton made it 1-0 in the home half of the first before Branton's double scored Christian Molfetta in the second. Hoerner followed it up with another double to score Branton, and Daschbach's single scored Hoerner.

@andy_dash is at it again... #GoStanford

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Daschbach made it 7-0 with a home run in the fourth to score Tim Tawa and Branton – Branton finished 2-for-4 with three runs after going 4-for-4 on Friday. Kyle Stowers' RBI single in the sixth made it 8-0, and Brandon Wulff, making his first start since March 29, singled home Stowers to make it 9-0.

Will Matthiessen came on to get the final out in the sixth before retiring the side in the seventh with Stanford leading, 9-0. Luke Sleeper pitched the eighth for his second career appearance – Sleeper retired the side after surrendering a leadoff double. Carson Rudd, John Henry Styles and Zach Grech all pitched in the ninth before Jack Little came in for the final out, earning his 14th save in the process.

Little moves into second place on Stanford's all-time single-season saves lists behind Colton Hock (16 – 2017). Stowers finished 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI, and Christian Molfetta reached base twice with one hit and one walk.

No. 3 Stanford returns tomorrow for the series finale against Washington State at Noon PT. The game will air on Pac-12 Networks with live statistics available at GoStanford.com. Senior day ceremonies will start at approximately 11:50 am.

Cardinal Notes

  • Nico Hoerner leads the team with 20 multi-hit games – today was his seventh game of the season with three or more.
  • Bubic lowered his season ERA to 2.55.  
  • Stanford's 42 wins matches last season's total after 50 games.
  • Branton reached base in his first eight plate appearances in the series after going 4-for-4 with one walk on Friday.