SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - No. 3 Stanford (38-14) scored 16 runs in the final four innings, including six in the sixth and eighth, to defeat California (24-28) 18-10 on Wednesday night from Scottsdale Stadium and the 2023 Pac-12 Baseball Tournament.
Freshman Malcolm Moore, the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, collected four hits to help power the Cardinal to victory, finishing 4-for-6 with three runs scored, a double and one RBI. The multi-hit game, Moore's 20th of the season, extended his hitting streak to 10 contests.
Fresh off being named Pac-12 Player of the Year, Alberto Rios went 3-for-5 with a double, a home run, four runs scored and two RBIs to extend his hitting streak to 16 games. The round-tripper, Rios' 17th of the season, came in the top of the ninth and completed a set of back-to-back home runs with sophomore Braden Montgomery. Montgomery's home run, a two-run shot, ran his season total to 15 and came as part of a 2-for-5 day at the plate that extended his hitting streak to 10 games.
Junior Brandt Pancer (2-0) picked up the victory out of the bullpen for Stanford, recording the final two outs in the fifth in relief of starter Matt Scott. Scott tossed the first 4 1/3 innings, allowing five runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out three. Junior Drew Dowd followed Pancer, throwing two innings, giving up one run on one hit, with no walks and one strikeout. Junior Ryan Bruno finished the game on the hill for the Cardinal, allowing a hit and two walks with two strikeouts over the final 1 1/3 innings.
Sophomore designated hitter Jake Sapien posted three RBIs while finishing 2-for-4 out of the eighth spot in the order, but the biggest hit of the night belonged to junior Carter Graham who broke a 5-5 game with a three-RBI double in the six-run sixth inning. The double extended Graham's hitting streak to 19 games.
California came out aggressive on Wednesday night, scoring twice in the first inning to take the early 2-0 lead. After Stanford got one back in the second, Cal put two more on the board in the third to stretch the advantage to 4-1.
Stanford added a run in the fourth only to have the Golden Bears respond with one in the fifth.
The Cardinal trailed 5-2 headed to the sixth, but scored six runs on four hits and one Cal error to take a lead it would not relinquish the rest of the way. Blowing it open the eighth, the Cardinal scored six more on five hits - including RBI singles from Montgomery, Rios and Drew Bowser - to take a commanding 14-6 lead.
While the homers from Montgomery and Rios did the bulk of the damage in the ninth, Bowser tripled and scored the game's final run to finish 2-for-6 with two runs scored and two driven in.
UP NEXT
Stanford will return to round-robin action on Thursday at 7 p.m. when it battles Oregon. The Cardinal has already locked up a spot in Friday's semifinal round by way of the victory over the Golden Bears on Wednesday.
GAME NOTES
» Stanford has won 11 of its last 12 games, 14 of 16, 15 of 18, and 16 of 20 overall.
» Stanford has now scored 15-plus runs in 11 games this year – including three of its last five overall.
» The Cardinal went 5-1 in six games played against California this year.
» Three different Cardinal drove in three runs.
» Every Stanford starter reached base safely in the win.
» Six Cardinal had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Cardinal out-hit the Golden Bears at a 17-10 clip.
» Stanford went 8-for-22 (.364) with runners in scoring position.
» Stanford pitchers faced 46 Cal hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and eight fly balls while striking out eight.
» The Cardinal drew eight walks from Cal pitching.
» Cal was led offensively by sophomore Caleb Lomavita, who went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a home run and three RBIs.
