SAN DIEGO – Junior Brett Barrera broke a 4-4 tie with a two-out, two-RBI triple in the top of the ninth as No. 7 Stanford (24-12) defeated San Diego State (11-30) 6-4 on Sunday from Tony Gwynn Stadium.
Barrera's triple was his third hit of the day as he finished 3 for 5 with the two RBIs.
Sophomore Eddie Park led off the ninth inning with a single before Adam Crampton, who went 2 for 3 with an RBI-triple of his own, bunted him along to second. After SDSU left fielder Xavier Carter made a diving catch to rob Brock Jones of a hit, Carter Graham drew a walk to put two aboard for Barrera. The native of Huntington Beach, Calif. split the gap in right-center field, scoring both runners without a throw.
Sophomore Ryan Bruno was stellar finishing the game out of the bullpen for Stanford, tossing the final 2 2/3 innings and striking out four. The left-hander entered a tie game with two on and one out in the seventh, inducing an inning-ending double play to keep the game knotted. Bruno would walk the leadoff man in the eighth, but eventually struck out four of the final five he faced to earn the victory and move to 3-0 on the season.
Graham got the scoring started on Sunday, launching his team-leading 11th home run of the year in the top of the first.
Quinn Mathews got the start for the Cardinal, tossing 4 1/3 innings and allowing three runs on six hits with five strikeouts in a no decision.
San Diego State starter Chris Canada lasted five innings, allowing four runs on seven hits, before handing the ball over to the bullpen. Jonny Guzman was ultimately saddled with the loss, charged with the go-ahead run in the ninth after allowing the single to Park. The loss dropped Guzman to 1-3 on the season.
Stanford will return to Pac-12 play next week, traveling to Washington for a three-game series beginning on Friday at 6:05 p.m.
