Matthiessen Does it AllMatthiessen Does it All
Baseball

Matthiessen Does it All

Box Score

LOS ANGELES – Will Matthiessen dominated in a career-high 7.0 innings while driving in two runs at the plate in No. 2 Stanford's 7-4 win over USC on Saturday night at Dedeaux Field.

"Winning on the road in the Pac-12 is never easy and USC proved that tonight by really testing us in the ninth," said the Clarke and Elizabeth Nelson Director of Baseball David Esquer. "I don't think I've ever had a player perform on both sides of the ball like Will Matthiessen has, and that swing by Kyle Stowers in the ninth was as big as they come. This team prides itself on preparation and they were prepared for any situation tonight."

Leading 7-1 in the ninth, Stanford allowed USC to put the tying run at the plate after a three-run home run to make it 7-4, but Austin Weiermiller struck out the final two outs to strand two runners and help Stanford clinch the series. Matthiessen (W, 5-1) struck out five in a career-high 7.0 innings, surrendering just one run on two hits while also driving in a pair with a two-out, two-run double in the fifth. Stowers' three-run home run in the top of the ninth, which made it 7-1, ultimately proved to be the game-winning hit and Nick Bellafronto reached base three times and scored twice.

Stanford took full advantage of its opportunities on offense, scoring seven runs on just five hits with no Cardinal registering multiple hits. The Cardinal (34-7-0, 17-3-0 Pac-12) offense started slow with the first seven hitters failing to reach base. Stanford put two on in the third but Maverick Handley's fly out to deep left center stranded both runners. Matthiessen matched USC starter Isaac Esqueda's strong start, striking out a pair in a scoreless first before a one-two-three second inning. The Trojans (19-24-1, 8-11-1) plated the first run of the game in the bottom of the third, courtesy of Blake Sabol's solo shot to right field.

Stanford registered its first hit of the game in the fifth, a single by Nick Bellafronto, before plating four runs in the frame. Tim Tawa doubled home Bellafronto, eventually scoring on Handley's single to left field. Matthiessen had the biggest swing of the inning, belting a two-out, two-run double down the left-field line to make it 4-1. Matthiessen then delivered a shutdown inning, picking up a pair of strikeouts in the inning.

Matthiessen continued to deal in the sixth, putting away the Trojans in order again – the junior had just 60 pitches after 6.0 innings. In the seventh, Matthiessen finished the frame with his fifth strikeout, retiring his final 11 hitters before making way for Jack Little.

Little retired the side in the eighth after allowing a two-out walk, and Stowers' three-run blast in the top of the ninth doubled Stanford's lead to make it 7-1. Stowers pummeled an 0-1 fastball deep into the night, well over the scoreboard beyond the right-field fence.

Drama arose in the ninth inning as Little allowed three runs on one swing of the bat, a three-run home run by Matthew Acosta. Weiermiller relieved Little, striking out Emilio Rosas with two runners aboard before punching out pinch hitter Chase Bushor for the final out for his second save of the season.

The series concludes on Sunday at 2 p.m. with left-handed pitcher Erik Miller taking the mound for the Cardinal. The game will air on Pac-12 Networks with live statistics available at GoStanford.com.

Cardinal Notes

  • Stanford is 12-3 when opponent scores first.
  • The Cardinal is 28-0 when leading after seven and 31-0 when leading after eight.
  • Matthiessen has 11 hits, six runs and six RBI in his five starts on the mound.