SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - The No. 3 Stanford Cardinal (38-15) fell 8-6 in 10 innings to the Oregon Ducks (35-20) Thursday from the Pac-12 Tournament. Despite the loss, Stanford will advance to Friday's semifinal round based on a tiebreaker.
Stanford scored four runs in the first and two more in the second, opening up a 6-2 lead after two innings, but couldn't hold off the Ducks late.
Oregon scored one in the fifth and one in the eighth to make it a 6-4 game headed to the ninth. A leadoff double got the inning started before Brandt Pancer induced a pair of fly ball outs - the second going for a sac fly. Colby Shade followed by lacing a ball off the wall in right field with two outs. Trying for a triple, the relay throw to get Shade was very high - sailing out of play and allowing the tying run to score.
Oregon would score twice in the 10th to win the game - the eventual game winner coming on a solo home run from Sabin Ceballos.
Pancer was saddled with the loss and dropped to 2-1 after allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits over one inning.
Freshman Nick Dugan was a bright spot out of the bullpen for Stanford, going six innings, surrendering two runs, both earned, on seven hits, walking none and striking out four.
Junior Carter Graham led the way offensively for the Cardinal, going 2-for-4 in the ballgame with a double, a home run, a walk and three RBIs. The home run, a two-run shot in the first, was his 15th of the season. Junior Alberto Rios compiled a noteworthy performance at the plate as well, going 2-for-3 with two doubles, three walks and an RBI. Junior Eddie Park also helped out, going 3-for-4 for Stanford with a double and two walks, but Stanford stranded 14 runners in the loss.
UP NEXT
Stanford will play Arizona in the semifinal round of the Pac-12 tournament at 7 p.m. on Friday night.
GAME NOTES
» Stanford got multiple extra-base hits from both Rios and Graham.
» The loss was the first of the season for the Cardinal when leading after six innings (24-1).
» Stanford's highest scoring inning was the first, when it pushed four runs across.
» Four Stanford hitters had multiple base knocks in the ballgame.
» Stanford pitchers faced 46 Oregon hitters in the game, allowing 12 ground balls and nine fly balls while striking out nine.
» The Cardinal drew seven walks from Oregon pitching.
» Junior Logan Mercado led the Ducks pitching staff, throwing 4.1 shutout innings.
