STANFORD, Calif. – Junior Quinn Mathews tossed seven shutout innings, allowing three hits and two walks with a career-best 11 strikeouts as Stanford (11-8, 3-5 Pac-12) defeated Washington State (9-13, 1-7 Pac-12) 7-1 on Saturday afternoon to secure a series victory.
Mathews struck out the side in the first inning, providing a preview of what was to come on Saturday afternoon. The left-hander, who improved to 3-1 with the victory, struck out six through three innings and eight through four. His career-high tying 10th strikeout came for the first out in the seventh inning before he struck out Kodie Kolden one batter later to set the new benchmark – surpassing his 10 from his outing vs. No. 2 Arkansas earlier this season on February 27.
The 11 strikeouts were the most for a Cardinal pitcher since Brendan Beck struck out 13 at #8 Texas Tech on June 11, 2021.
Having thrown 108 pitches to navigate the seven frames, Mathews handed the ball to sophomore Tommy O'Rourke in the eighth. O'Rourke struck out two over his one frame before Justin Moore shut the door on the Cougars in the ninth. Moore was charged with the lone WSU run as the Cougars managed to plate a two-out tally on a single from Kolden.
The trio of Stanford pitchers combined for 14 strikeouts while allowing six hits and three walks.
Offensively, Stanford utilized the long ball to do the bulk of its damage. Junior Brett Barrera got the party started with a solo shot in the first inning – his fourth of the year.
Stanford took advantage of first-and-third baserunning tactics to score solo runs in the second and fifth, with Eddie Park staying in a rundown long enough to allow Braden Montgomery to score in the second before a double-steal from Brock Jones and Adam Crampton resulted in the fifth-inning run.
Leading 3-0 headed to the sixth, Stanford extended the lead to 5-0 on a two-run home run from Kody Huff. The round-tripper was Huff's third of the season. It was a similar story in the seventh as Jones connected for his second long ball of the year with Crampton aboard.
Jones finished the game 2 for 3 with a run scored and two RBI while hitting out of the leadoff spot in the order, while Crampton was 2 for 3 with a pair of runs scored.
Washington State starter Cole McMillan was charged with the loss after allowing seven runs on nine hits and one walk while striking out four over 6 1/3 innings. The decision dropped the left-hander to 1-2 on the season.
Stanford will look to sweep Washington State on Sunday as the two teams finish off the series at 1:05 p.m.