STANFORD, Calif. - Senior Quinn Mathews had everything working on Friday, fanning 10 Rice hitters over 6 1/3 innings of work to help power the No. 2 Stanford Cardinal over the Owls (2-3) 6-3.
Mathews (1-1) allowed just two runs on three hits with three walks for Stanford (3-2) and retired the final 10 batters he faced. The native of Aliso Viejo, Calif. fell a strikeout shy of his career high of 11.
Freshman Matt Scott pitched the final two scoreless innings while allowing no hits, with no walks and three strikeouts to earn his first career save.
At the plate, the Cardinal were paced by junior Alberto Rios, who went 2-for-4 on the day with two RBIs and a run scored. Junior Tommy Troy put together a standout day at the dish as well, going 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored and a walk. Junior Eddie Park contributed one of the biggest hits of the day for Stanford, lining a go-ahead two-RBI single into left-center field with two outs to cap a three-run sixth inning.
Sophomore Parker Smith (0-1) got the start for Rice, allowing four runs (one earned) on six hits and a walk over 5 2/3 innings. Smith struck out five Cardinal batters.
GAME NOTES
» Mathews has now lasted five-plus innings in 18 of his 29 career starts and has registered a quality start in seven of his last 10.
» Braden Montgomery (0-for-3, BB) has reached in 31 consecutive games dating back to last season.
» Owen Cobb (2-for-4) has hit safely in four straight games (.500, 9x18, 4 R, 3B, HR, 4 RBIs)
» Alberto Rios (2-for-4, R, 2 RBIs) has hit safely in four straight games (.438, 7x16, 5 R, 2 2B, 4 RBIs)
»Tommy Troy (2-for-4, R, 2B, BB) extended his hitting streak to four games (.467, 7x15, 6 R, 2B, 3B, HR, 4 RBIs)
» Every Stanford starter reached base safely in the win.
» The Stanford pitching staff combined to strike out 14 Rice hitters.
» Stanford's highest scoring inning was the sixth, when it pushed three runs across.
» The Cardinal out-hit the Owls at a 9-4 clip.
» The Cardinal drew four walks from Rice pitching.
» Rice was led offensively by junior Pierce Gallo, who went 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI.
» Park's two-RBI single was his 100th career hit.
UP NEXT
Stanford and Rice will conclude the three-game series on Saturday when they meet for a doubleheader starting at 12:05 p.m. Game two of the doubleheader is scheduled to start 45 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.
