STANFORD, Calif. – Hosting No. 9 Arizona (32-13, 16-8 Pac-12) in a rubber game of a three-game series on Sunday, No. 16 Stanford (26-10, 12-6 Pac-12) received a stellar start from junior Alex Williams en route to capturing an 8-2 victory and the series win from Sunken Diamond.
Facing the Pac-12's top statistical offense, including the national leader in average and runs scored entering the week, Williams tossed six scoreless frames, allowing just three hits and one walk with six strikeouts. The right-hander allowed a one-out double in the third and worked around a pair of singles in the fifth to post the six scoreless frames.
Freshman Tommy O'Rourke took over in the seventh inning and recorded one out before the Cardinal handed the ball over to closer Zach Grech with a run in and a runner aboard. Grech worked the final 2 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out one.
Stanford wasted no time getting on the board on Sunday, plating a run on an RBI-single from senior Christian Robinson in the first inning. Robinson finished the game 2 for 4 with a run scored and the one RBI.
With Williams busy hanging zeroes defensively, freshman Tommy Troy turned the 1-0 lead into a 3-0 advantage in the fifth with his fifth homer of the year – a two-run shot to left field.
Troy, starting in left field and hitting out of the second spot in the order, went 2 for 4 with two runs scored and two RBIs on Sunday.
Stanford would add two more runs in the sixth, highlighted by an RBI-double from Nick Brueser to extend the lead to 5-0.
While Arizona got two in the seventh, Stanford never let up, tacking one a single run in the seventh and two more in the eighth to eventually earn the 8-2 victory.
The Cardinal will return to action on Tuesday when it hosts San Jose State at 6:05 p.m. from Sunken Diamond.
