Stanford Routs UtahStanford Routs Utah
Bob Drebin / isiphotos.com
Baseball

Stanford Routs Utah

SALT LAKE CITY – No. 2 Stanford opened a three-game series with a convincing 12-1 win over Utah on Friday at Smith's Stadium.

"I thought we did a really good job offensively, scoring runs throughout the game and really playing some solid baseball," said Clarke and Elizabeth Nelson Director of Baseball David Esquer. "It was a different approach, coming out this early in the day, but credit our guys for focusing and performing in this situation."

The Cardinal (35-6 overall, 15-4 Pac-12) took over first place in the Pac-12 Conference behind 6.0 strong innings from Tristan Beck and offensive contributions from the entire lineup. Kyle Stowers, Nico Hoerner and Will Matthiessen had two RBI apiece, with the latter scoring three times, and Nick Oar hit his first career home run in the ninth inning. Andrew Daschbach and Alec Wilson each had three-hit days, and all nine in Stanford's batting order reached base.

After Beck escaped a jam in the bottom of the first, Stanford started the rout with two in the third and one in the fourth. The Utes (12-30, 6-13) plated its only run of the day in the bottom of the fourth before Stanford piled on nine more unanswered runs.

Stowers drove in two in the fifth with a triple to the alley in right center, and Maverick Handley brought home Stowers with a safety squeeze to make it 6-1. Tim Tawa and Nico Hoerner had RBI in the sixth before Matthiessen's double in the seventh made it 10-1. Beau Branton added an RBI single in the seventh, and Oar's pinch-hit, solo home run in the ninth inning put a bow on an impressive day at the plate which included 14 Cardinal hits.

Beck was named the winning pitcher for his fifth consecutive start – over 6.0 innings, Beck scattered five hits and one walk while striking out five and allowing one earned run. Austin Weiermiller (2.0 innings) and Carson Rudd (1.0) combined to allow one hit over the final three frames.

Happy Full Send Friday from @nickoar. ?? #GoStanford

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"Beck has looked better and better as the season has gone on, and today was another impressive showing from our Friday night guy," added Esquer. "This was yet another improvement from his last start, and we're going to need more of that from him."

No. 2 Stanford is back in action tomorrow at Smith's Ballpark for Game 2 of the three-game series. First pitch is set for 10:30 a.m. PT on Pac-12 Networks with live statistics available at GoStanford.com.

Cardinal Notes

  • Stanford batted 10-for-26 with runners on base and 7-for-9 in the leadoff position.
  • Beck's season ERA dips to 2.66 after the win.
  • Tanner Thomas pitched 7.0 innings for Utah and was credited with the loss.
  • Oar's home run was the first of his career and his second hit of the season.
  • Nico Hoerner leads the team with 14 multi-hit games on the season.
  • It was the fourth straight game in which Stanford has allowed two-or-less runs.