STANFORD, Calif. – Nine different Cardinal scored and Erik Miller dominated on the mound in a rain-shortened 9-0 win over No. 12 Texas on Sunday at Sunken Diamond.
"That was the best I've ever seen Miller, and credit to our entire pitching staff for the job they did this week against one of the best lineups in the nation," said the Clarke and Elizabeth Nelson Director of Baseball David Esquer. "We've played regional-quality teams all season long, and this was our biggest test as we head into Pac-12 play. I was pleased with how patient our hitters were today and the way we stuck to the plan playing through some adversity with the weather."
Andrew Daschbach finished with two RBI while seven Cardinal finished with one hit apiece and nine finished with one run. Miller set a career high with 101 pitches, tying his career high in strikeouts (9) and season high in innings pitched (6.0) while surrendering just one hit.
While we wait for the severe weather to pass, enjoy all of @E_Rex23's career-high 9 punchouts on the day. ????????? #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/131Eb7BR9h
— Stanford Baseball (@StanfordBSB) March 10, 2019
The Cardinal (12-3-0) benefitted from a series of errors, walks and wild pitches to break the 0-0 tie in the fourth inning with eight runs. Stanford scored three times on a wild pitch and an error by the Longhorns (12-6-0), Tim Tawa walked with the bases loaded and Duke Kinamon's hard-hit single up the middle made it 5-0.
Kyle Stowers, who led off the inning, walked with the bases loaded, Will Matthiessen brought home Dieter with a sacrifice fly to deep center and Andrew Daschbach drew another bases-loaded walk to make it 8-0. Stanford finished the 52-minute inning sending 15 batters to the plate.
Wilson's second career home run in the fifth made it 9-0 as Miller continued to put the Longhorns away with authority. Starting in the third, Miller retired nine Longhorns in a row after stranding runners on first and second in the first two innings. Carson Rudd relieved Miller for the top of the seventh, which would be the final frame of the afternoon – Rudd struck out two and has still not allowed a run in 2019.
No. 6 Stanford returns to action March 22-24 for the start of Pac-12 play when it plays host to Utah at Sunken Diamond. Live streaming and statistics will be available at GoStanford.com.
Cardinal Notes
- Stanford outscored the Longhorns 21-3 over the final three games of the series, which began Thursday with a 4-0 loss to Texas.
- Handley has reached base safely in all 15 games this season.
- Texas head coach David Pierce was ejected in the bottom of the sixth inning.
- Play was delayed in the top of the seventh with severe weather in the area.