STANFORD, Calif. – Freshman Braden Montgomery homered in the seventh inning and pitched the ninth to earn the save as No. 6 Stanford (8-3) defeated CSUN (6-4) 3-2 on Sunday to earn a series victory.
Montgomery finished 2 for 3 with two runs scored and his third homer of the year. The round-tripper ran Stanford's advantage to 3-1 after seven innings.
The right-hander made the move from right field to the pitcher's mound in the ninth and ran into a bit of trouble. After recording the first out on the first pitch he threw, Montgomery walked the next two before issuing a check-swing single to load the bases. A foul out to Kody Huff behind the plate resulted in the second out of the inning, but a passed ball and a walk forced in a run and once again loaded the bases with two outs. Montgomery, who converted his second save of the year, escaped the jam on the very next play, inducing a ground ball to shortstop to end the game.
Including Montgomery's ninth inning, the Stanford bullpen combined for 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball, including 3 2/3 innings from sophomore Joey Dixon. Dixon, who improved to 1-0 with the victory, inherited two runners with one out in the fourth and escaped the jam – ultimately retiring the final 11 batters he faced with four strikeouts.
Sophomore Tommy O'Rourke bridged the gap to Montgomery, retiring the side in order on 12 pitches in the eighth.
CSUN got on the board first on Sunday, scoring a single run against Stanford starter Drew Dowd on an RBI-single from Joey Kramer in the fourth.
The Cardinal responded for two runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a lead it would not relinquish. Adam Crampton tied the game with an RBI-single into center field before a costly throwing error charged to shortstop Ali Camarillo pushed the second run of the inning across.
Crampton, hitting out of the ninth spot in the order, finished 3 for 3 with the one RBI.
Dowd logged 3 1/3 innings and allowed the one run on three hits and three walks while striking out one in the no-decision.
CSUN starter Ryan Wentz was saddled with the tough-luck loss after allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks with six strikeouts over six innings. The right-hander fell to 1-1 on the year.
Stanford will return to action on Friday when it opens Pac-12 play against Oregon. First pitch of the series is set for 6:05 p.m.