Feeling SuperFeeling Super
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Feeling Super

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STANFORD, Calif. – No. 4 Stanford made it three wins in a row in elimination games to clinch the Stanford Regional and advance to its first Super Regional since 2014 with a thrilling 9-7 win over Fresno State on Monday night at Sunken Diamond.

"I could not be prouder of this group of guys and the way they battled back," said the Clarke and Elizabeth Nelson Director of Baseball David Esquer. "There were a number of heroes tonight and we needed all of them. Our pitching staff pieced it together, we needed every ounce of energy and this team has a toughness about them that people don't really expect. Tonight was a great example of that."

Maverick Handley homered twice, Christian Robinson went 2-for-4 with four two-out RBI and Brendan Beck threw 3.1 perfect innings in relief after earning the win in Friday's Regional opener. Jack Little struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth for his 12th save of the season after Stanford and Fresno State traded punches throughout an unforgettable contest.

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The Cardinal (45-12-0) faced elimination after a loss to the Bulldogs (40-16-1) on Saturday night but won three straight to claim its first Regional crown on home turf since 2012, punching a ticket to the 11th Super Regional in program history. Stanford will face No. 3 Mississippi State for the third time in program history when it opens the Super Regional round – game dates and times will be released at 5 a.m. PT on Tuesday morning.

The Cardinal went away quickly and in order in the first but starting pitcher Cody Jensen was up to the task, matching a scoreless frame in the home half. Stanford took the first lead of the game in the second through Christian Robinson's two-out, two-run single. The Cardinal put runners on second and third with no outs but the next two batters were retired, setting up an intentional walk to Nick Bellafronto before Robinson's line drive through the right side.

The Bulldogs took the lead in the home half, plating three runs in the home half, two of which were unearned. A fielding error allowed the lead-off runner to reach base, followed by a double to put runners at second and third with no outs. Jacob Palisch replaced Jensen, allowing a two-run single which tied it at 2-2 before striking out Zach Ashford. Carter Bins came through with a two-out RBI single to give Fresno State the lead but Palisch stranded two runners by striking out JT Arruda to end the inning.

Fresno State's lead did not last long as Handley homered on the first pitch of the third to tie it up at three apiece before Palisch worked a shutdown inning in the bottom half. The Bulldogs regained the lead in the fourth as Carter Bins' two-out, two-run home run made it 5-3, but Stanford stormed back with six runs in the fifth.

Handley got the scoring started with his second home run of the night, a two-run blast to tie it up at 5-5, and the Cardinal added runs with a bases-loaded walk by Kinamon and a sacrifice fly from Tim Tawa. With two outs, Robinson came through yet again with a double into the right-field corner to make it 9-5.

After Zach Grech took over to start the home half, the Bulldogs cut the lead in half with a two-run shot by Nate Thimjon. Beck replaced Grech in his first relief appearance of the season, striking out Zach Presno for the final out of the inning. After the Cardinal went down in order, Beck came back to work another one-two-three inning in the home half of the seventh.

Stanford set up shop in the top of the eighth as Robinson was hit by a pitch to lead off, followed by a double down the right-field line by Stowers. The Cardinal could not advance either runner however, as Oscar Carvajal retired the next three batters before Beck pitched another flawless home half.

The Cardinal had a golden opportunity to extend the lead in the top of the ninth, but Robinson struck out with runners on first and second to end the inning. Little took over for the ninth, striking out all three batters he faced for an emphatic save in the final game of the season at Sunken Diamond.

Cardinal Notes

  • Stanford's last Super Regional appearance came in 2014 when it lost, 2-0, at Florida State.
  • Beck finished the regional with 10.1 shutout innings, allowing just six hits.
  • Matthiessen led the team in batting average (.368) in the Regional.
  • Handley hit three home runs in the Regional.
  • Stanford has hit multiple home runs in 17 of its last 29 games with 71 homers in 33 games.
  • Robinson's four RBI were a career high.
  • The Cardinal hit 12 home runs in five games during the Stanford Regional.
  • Stowers was drafted 71st overall in the second round of the MLB Draft during the top of the fifth inning.
  • After winning the opener, 11-0, on Friday afternoon over Sacramento State, the Cardinal dropped a 7-2 decision to the Bulldogs on Saturday night to fall into the losers' bracket. Stanford reached Monday after two wins on Sunday, starting with a 12-3 win over Sacramento State and ending with a thrilling 8-6 win over Fresno State in the evening.