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STANFORD, Calif.– The postseason is all about surviving and advancing.
Stanford did both Sunday against Baylor at Sunken Diamond, winning 4-2 in the elimination game of the NCAA Stanford Regional.
The Cardinal (46-11) put together a 4-0 spurt through the first two innings, with Baylor chipping into the lead with one run in both the fifth and seventh frames. Baylor (37-11) had the tying run at the plate in the ninth before Jack Little closed the book on the Bears with his 16th save on the season, setting the stage for Stanford's Sunday evening rematch with Cal State Fullerton. That game begins at 6 p.m. PT and will be broadcast on ESPN3.
With a win, Stanford would force a decisive Game 7 on Monday at 7 p.m., and the Titans would eliminate Stanford from the postseason with a win tonight. The Titans handed Stanford its NCAA Tournament setback Saturday night, 2-1, with a walk-off home run.
Andrew Daschbach's team-leading 17th home run in the 1st inning gave Stanford the early lead in today's 4-2 win over Baylor. #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/x23011YFYG
— Stanford Baseball (@StanfordBSB) June 3, 2018
Stanford chased Baylor starter Tyler Thomas (3-3) from the game after 1.1 innings. Andrew Daschbach's home run in the first frame made it 2-0 before Stanford doubled its lead in the second. Will Matthiessen's triple off the wall in center scored Brandon Wulff before Matthiessen scored on an Alec Wilson sacrifice fly.
Matthiessen had a game-high two hits.
The Cardinal and the Bears traded several fine defensive plays before Baylor started to cut into the lead with solo home runs in the fourth and sixth innings. Davion Downey's blast to right made it 4-1 before Shea Langeliers' shot to left in the sixth cut the lead to two. Brendan Beck (8-0) departed after Langelier's home run with two out in the sixth – he hurled a career-high 6.2 innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits with one strikeout.
Jacob Palisch replaced Beck, contributing 1.1 frames of flawless relief and needing only seven pitches to get through four batters.
Baylor out-hit Stanford, 5-4. Both teams left two runners on base.
Cardinal Notes
· Daschbach's home run was the first allowed by Tyler Thomas all season.
· Little's 16th save tied the Stanford record set by Colton Hock in 2017.
