PULLMAN, Wash. – Trailing 5-4 headed into the ninth inning, Stanford (16-4, 4-1 Pac-12) scored three runs in the final frame to collect a 7-5 victory over Washington State (12-19, 1-7 Pac-12) on Friday night.
With the victory, Stanford has clinched the Pac-12 series win over the Cougars.
Sophomore Adam Crampton got the rally started with an infield single before Austin Kretzschmar pinch hit and contributed a sacrifice bunt to push the tying run into scoring position. Senior Tim Tawa, who went 3 for 5 on the night, delivered another clutch hit for the Cardinal, lining the game-tying RBI-single into centerfield to knot the tally at 5-5.
Tommy Troy, who entered as a defensive replacement earlier in the game, turned in one of the best at bats of the year on the ensuing play, fouling off four consecutive 3-2 pitches before launching his third homer of the year on the 11th pitch of the at bat to put the Cardinal on top at 7-5.
Sophomore Brock Jones homered for the second consecutive game, launching a two-run shot in the top of the fifth to hand Stanford a 4-3 lead to that point. The home run was the ninth of the season for Jones.
The Cardinal had to play from behind early on Friday, surrendering three runs on two hits and three errors in the first inning.
While Jones' homer handed Stanford a lead that would last until the sixth, Washington State scored once in the sixth and one more in the seventh to force Stanford to rally in the ninth.
Sophomore Quinn Mathews got the start for the Cardinal, tossing five innings and allowing four runs on four hits and three walks with five strikeouts before not factoring into the decision.
Cardinal closer Zach Grech was credited with the win after throwing the final three scoreless innings and allowing just one hit to improve to 4-1 on the season.
Dakota Hawkins was inserted into the ninth inning trying to lock up the save for WSU, but Hawkins surrendered the three runs on three hits to take the loss and fall to 1-4.
Stanford will look for the series sweep on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for noon.
