Box Score
ROUND ROCK, Texas – Stanford got out to an early lead at the inaugural Round Rock Classic on Friday, but a seven-run fourth inning for Houston was too much to overcome in the 11-4 loss at Dell Diamond.
The Cardinal got off to a hot start as Brock Jones walked and stole second to begin the game. Christian Molfetta quickly followed with his first of two doubles in the game to put Stanford ahead, 1-0.
Houston responded in the bottom of the second with a sacrifice fly to knot the game.
Stanford, who left 12 runners on base in the game, left two runners stranded in the top of the fourth. Houston then capitalized, as the Cougars took advantage of three Cardinal errors to score seven runs – five unearned – in the home half of the fourth to take a commanding 8-1 lead.
The Cardinal left the bases loaded in each of the next two innings before scoring three runs in the top of the seventh to close the margin to four, at 8-4. Molfetta began the seventh with a double, followed by back-to-back infield singles by Tim Tawa and Nick Brueser. After a strikeout, Nick Bellafronto connected for his first hit of the season, a two-RBI single into right field. Vincent Martinez then came through with a pinch-hit RBI single, his first career run batted in, to bring Stanford within four.
Houston extended the lead with a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth and would close out the game from there.
For the second straight weekend, starting pitcher Brendan Beck was the tough-luck loser. He went just 3.2 innings on Friday, but five of the runs he allowed were unearned. Nicolas Lopez, Jackson Parthasarathy and Carson Rudd pitched the final 4.1 innings to close out the game.
Stanford returns to the field for a showdown with No. 6 Texas Tech on Saturday night. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. PT.