BERKELEY, Calif. – Senior Brendan Beck was dominant in the series opener of a three-game set at California on Friday night, allowing just two runs on three hits and a walk with a career-best 12 strikeouts over eight innings as the No. 12 Cardinal (28-10, 13-6 Pac-12) earned a 9-2 victory over the Golden Bears (24-22, 10-12 Pac-12) from Evans Diamond.
Beck's 12 strikeouts bested his previous career high of 11 accomplished three times, including most recently vs. Utah on March 19, 2021. The native of Corona, Calif. improved to 6-0 on the season with the victory.
Solo homers from Cole Elvis and Quentin Selman in the third and seventh innings, respectively, provided the only real damage for the Golden Bears against Beck. The right-hander retired 11 straight from the fourth through the seventh, collecting six strikeouts over that span.
Stanford got on the board first in the second, plating three two-out runs to take a 3-0 lead. Drew Bowser and Nick Brueser each reached early in the inning, but it took a two-out RBI-single from Kody Huff to begin the scoring. Adam Crampton followed with an RBI-single of his own before Brock Jones shot an RBI-single into center field to cap the scoring run.
Brueser, who broke his bat on the single in the second, did some damage with his new weapon in the third, launching his eighth homer of the season out to left-center field. The native of Chandler, Ariz., who finished 2 for 5 with two runs scored and three RBIs, connected for a three-run shot to extend the Cardinal lead to 6-0, bringing home Vincent Martinez and Bowser.
Stanford managed its third three-run inning of the game in the ninth to add some insurance and run the advantage to 9-2. Jones doubled home a run to start the scoring before Bowser lined a two-RBI single back up the middle to finish off the production.
Jones finished the game 2 for 4 with a run scored and two RBI, while Bowser went 1 for 3 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Crampton also finished with multiple hits, going 3 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI while hitting out of the ninth spot in the order.
Senior Jacob Palisch took over for Beck in the ninth, logging a scoreless inning of work to seal the victory.
Cal starter Josh White was saddled with the loss after allowing six runs (three earned) on five hits and three walks over five innings. White dropped to 4-2 on the season with the setback.
The two teams will continue the three-game series on Saturday at 3:05 p.m.