STANFORD, Calif. - Junior Joey Dixon struck out a career-best nine Washington hitters over 5 1/3 innings and the Cardinal offense erased a 4-0 deficit as No. 9 Stanford (25-12, 13-5 Pac-12) defeated Washington (21-13, 8-9 Pac-12) 8-6 on Sunday to earn a series victory over the Huskies from Sunken Diamond.
Dixon got himself in trouble in the fourth inning, issuing three two-out walks before allowing a grand slam to Michael Snyder, but limited the damage to just that one big swing while surrendering three hits.
Junior Drew Dowd (5-2) picked up the victory after getting a pair of outs and allowing one run with two strikeouts. Junior Ryan Bruno was stellar out of the Cardinal bullpen, tossing two shutout frames with four strikeouts.
Leading 8-6 headed to the ninth, Stanford handed the ball to Brandt Pancer. The right-hander retired the side in order in the final frame, securing his fourth save of the year.
As it has throughout the year, the Cardinal used the long ball to pick up the victory. Freshman Malcolm Moore got Stanford on the board in the fourth inning with a two-run home run - his eighth homer of the year. Junior Carter Graham blasted a two-run shot of his own in the fifth, bringing the Cardinal even at 4-4. The round-tripper was Graham's eighth of the season.
After Stanford gifted Washington the go-ahead run on an errant pickoff throw in the sixth, junior Alberto Rios contributed his eighth home run of the year to once again bring the Cardinal even at 5-5. Sophomore Temo Becerra picked the perfect time for his first career homer, going back-to-back with Rios to hand Stanford a lead it would not relinquish.
The Cardinal added one more run on a bases-loaded walk in the sixth, capping a three-run frame, before the two teams traded a run down the stretch. Stanford's final tally came on a Drew Bowser RBI-single with two outs in the eighth. The single capped a 2-for-5 day at the plate for Bowser.
While the home run provided the bulk of the damage, junior Eddie Park did well in setting the table, going 3-for-4 with a run scored and a walk while hitting out of the leadoff spot in the order. Including a homer each, Graham, Rios and Becerra each finished with two hits.
UP NEXT
Stanford will host California in a non-conference midweek game on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
GAME NOTES
» The Stanford pitching staff combined to strike out 15 Washington hitters.
» The back-to-back homers from Rios and Becerra were the first for the Cardinal since Drew Bowser and Tommy Troy went back-to-back in the bottom of the ninth against Connecticut on June 11, 2022.
» With the 15 strikeouts, Stanford pitching struck out 49 Washington hitters over the three-game series (23 Friday, 11 Saturday, 15 Sunday).
» Five Cardinal had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» Stanford hitters hit four dingers in the ballgame.
» The Cardinal out-hit the Huskies at a 14-4 clip.
» Stanford pitchers limited Washington to just 1-for-10 (.100) with runners in scoring position.
» Stanford pitchers faced 37 Washington hitters in the game, allowing 11 ground balls and three fly balls while striking out 15.
» The Cardinal drew eight walks from Washington pitching.
