STANFORD, Calif. – No. 2 Stanford struck out a season-high 15 and Will Matthiessen hit his first career home run in a 5-2 win over San Francisco on Tuesday night at Sunken Diamond.
"We made this one harder than it should have been but a lot of credit goes to our pitching and defense for finishing this one off," said Clarke and Elizabeth Nelson Director of Baseball David Esquer. "Will hadn't had a look in a while – he has kept himself ready and it showed here tonight."
The Cardinal (34-6 overall, 14-4 Pac-12) set a season high in strikeouts, with five pitchers combining to punch out 15 San Francisco hitters. Matthiessen's home run in the third made it 4-0 and proved to provide the winning run. With runners on first and second, Matthiessen took a two-strike fastball to left center, scoring Maverick Handley and Kyle Stowers.
Erik Miller (4-2) earned the win, finishing 3.0 innings with four strikeouts – Miller earns the win despite not pitching the required 5.0 innings in accordance with Rule 10, Section 25 B-3. Brendan Beck relieved him, striking out five in 3.0 innings – the first two Cardinal pitchers combined to allow just three base runners (two hits, one walk) in 6.0 innings.
@willmatthiessen, you are cleared for takeoff. ?????? #GoStanford
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Jack Little picked up his 13th save of the season, getting the final five outs after San Francisco plated runs in the seventh and eighth innings. Little moved into a tie for second on Stanford's all-time single-season saves list with Jeff Bruksch (2000) and Steve Chitren (1987).
Nico Hoerner finished two-for-four, scoring a run and stealing two bases. Alec Wilson also had two stolen bases and two hits, including a double off the left-field wall, and Kyle Stowers reached base three times with a pair of hits.
The Dons (24-21, 13-8 WCC) got on the board in the seventh inning, plating a run with a two-out RBI single. Starter Benji Post (0-4) took the loss, allowing three earned runs in 3.0 innings.
No. 2 Stanford is back in action this weekend for a three-game series against Utah in Salt Lake City. Starting Friday, all three contests will air on Pac-12 Networks at 10:30 a.m. PT, and live statistics will be available at GoStanford.com.
Cardinal Notes
- Miller was credited with the win in accordance with Rule 10, Section 25 B-3, which states a pitcher with a predetermined limit can earn the win despite not finishing 5.0 innings. Miller exited the game after 3.0 innings with Stanford leading, 4-0.
- Matthiessen's start was his first since April 2 – his home run was the first by a Stanford designated hitter this season.
- Stanford's five stolen bases were a season high.
- It was the 23rd game this season in which Stanford has allowed two or less earned runs.