SALT LAKE CITY – Junior Brett Barrera capped a three-run eighth inning with a go-ahead, two-RBI single as No. 8 Stanford (33-14, 18-9 Pac-12) defeated Utah (25-24-1, 10-17 Pac-12) 7-6 on Sunday to earn a series sweep of the Utes.
With the win, Stanford has won eight straight games, 11 of the last 13, 14 of 17 and 19 of 23.
Stanford got on the board first on Sunday when junior Brock Jones connected for a leadoff home run – his 12th round-tripper of the year and third of the series.
The Cardinal trailed 5-1 after two innings, as Utah scored five runs on three hits in the second to chase Stanford starter Ty Uber.
Sophomore Drew Dowd worked the next four innings, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out four to keep Stanford in the game.
The Cardinal pushed single runs across in the third and fourth innings, with Carter Graham's Pac-12-leading 17th home run of the year providing the tally in the third. Junior Adam Crampton plated the run in the fourth, shooting an RBI-single into center field to bring home Eddie Park and cut the deficit to 5-3.
Crampton finished the game 2 for 2 with two runs scored and the RBI.
After Utah got a run back in the fourth, Stanford pushed an unearned run across in the sixth to once again draw within two at 6-4.
Trailing by the same deficit headed into the eighth, the Cardinal rallied for three runs – highlighted by Barrera's go-ahead single. The first run of the inning plated without the benefit of a hit as Zac McCleve walked two and hit two more to force in a run. After a pitching change brought Blake Whiting to the hill, Barrera lined the two-RBI single into right field to give Stanford the lead.
Including three in the eighth inning, Stanford was hit by six pitches on Sunday. The six hit batters are the most for the Cardinal since drawing six against San Jose State on April 23, 2013.
Junior Quinn Mathews was outstanding down the stretch for the Cardinal, tossing four scoreless innings and allowing just two hits with three strikeouts to earn the victory and move to 8-1 on the year.
McCleve was saddled with the loss and dropped to 2-2 after allowing the three runs in the eighth and striking out four over 1 1/3 innings.
Stanford will conclude the non-conference portion of the regular season on Tuesday when it travels to Santa Clara for a 6 p.m. game with the Broncos.
