STANFORD, Calif. – Fifth-ranked Stanford baseball hit three home runs and struck out 16 batters but couldn't withstand an Oregon (10-5, 2-0 Pac-12) rally in a 16-13 loss to drop the series, Saturday at Sunken Diamond.
The Cardinal (8-5, 0-2 Pac-12) jumped to a 9-3 lead through three innings after opening the game with four-run first and second innings, but the Ducks powered back with 13 unanswered runs during the middle innings to take a 14-9 lead over Stanford heading into the bottom of the ninth.
Back-to-back singles from Owen Cobb and Brock Jones put two runners on base, and Drew Bowser brought them home with a three-run home run into right field to pull Stanford with four runs, 16-12. Vincent Martinez followed up with a solo, pinch-hit home run – his first of the season – to make it a three run deficit with no outs in the ninth inning.
Oregon tightened up defensively to record three-straight outs to end the game and clinch the series. The 13 runs is tied for the most runs the Cardinal has scored in a game this season – matching the total from a 13-0 victory over Indiana at the Round Rock Classic, Feb. 27.
Carter Graham batted in five runs on Saturday, going 2-for-5 at the plate. Graham hit a three-run home run in the first inning, followed by a two RBI double in the second inning. Bowser was for 3-for-4 with four runs, three RBI and a pair of walks.
Quinn Matthews and Ryan Bruno struck out six and five batters, respectively, while the Cardinal staff allowed only four walks on the afternoon.
Stanford looks to pull a game back from Oregon in Sunday's series finale. First pitch from Sunken Diamond is at 12:05 p.m.
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