STANFORD, Calif. – Finishing a two-game series with Fresno State on Sunday from Sunken Diamond, Stanford (14-3) won a wild one 11-8 over the Bulldogs (7-10) to take both games on the weekend.
The Cardinal led 4-0 through three innings, but saw Fresno State claw back to even with single runs in the fourth and fifth, and two more in the top of the sixth. Stanford seemingly righted the ship in the bottom of the sixth, scoring three times to reclaim a 7-4 advantage that held until the eighth.
Continuing the fight, the Bulldogs managed to score four runs on three hits in the eighth inning, taking its first lead of the series at 8-7.
Refusing to surrender the momentum, Stanford responded with four runs of its own in the home half, highlighted by a two-run go-ahead home run from senior Tim Tawa. Tawa, who also had a two-run homer in the second inning, finished the game 3 for 5 with two runs scored and a career-best six RBIs. In addition to the two round-trippers, Tawa contributed a two-RBI single in the three-run bottom of the sixth.
The multi-homer game was the second of the season for the Cardinal after Brock Jones connected for a pair at San Francisco on March 7. For Tawa, it marked the second two-homer game of his career, matching the output from April 7, 2019 against UCLA.
Tawa's six RBIs were the most for a Cardinal player since Brandon Wulff drove in six against USC on March 25, 2018.
Stanford used five pitchers in Sunday's victory, with left-hander Drew Dowd getting the starting nod. Dowd logged four innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits and a walk while striking out three before not factoring into the decision.
Freshman Brandt Pancer tossed a scoreless inning before senior Brendan Beck made his first relief appearance of the season and handled the sixth. Freshman Ryan Bruno logged 1 1/3 innings with two strikeouts before fifth-year senior Zach Grech finished the game on the hill. Grech was charged with his first two earned runs of the season over the 1 2/3 innings, but eventually earned the victory and moved to 3-0 as Stanford's offense came alive in the eighth.
Dylan Johnson provided a spark off the bench for Fresno State, entering as a pinch hitter in the fifth inning and eventually finishing 2 for 3 with a double and three RBIs. Left-hander Robbie Peters was saddled with the loss and fell to 1-1 after allowing four runs (two earned) on three hits and a walk in the eighth.
Freshman Tommy Troy also homered for the Cardinal on Sunday, launching a solo shot to put Stanford on the board first in the first. The round-tripper was the second of the season for Troy.
Stanford will now travel to Sacramento State for a 3 p.m. first pitch on Monday. Following that non-conference game, the Cardinal will travel to Washington State for a three-game series starting on Thursday.
