PHOENIX, Ariz. - The No. 7 Stanford Cardinal (30-13, 17-6 Pac-12) won a high-scoring back-and-forth affair by a count of 12-11 on Saturday night, securing a crucial Pac-12 series victory over No. 20 Arizona State (29-17, 14-8 Pac-12) from ASU's Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
Junior Drew Dowd (6-2) got the win out of the bullpen for Stanford, settling things down by throwing three innings of one-run ball with three strikeouts before passing the baton to junior Ryan Bruno. Bruno retired the side in order in the ninth for the second consecutive night, locking up his sixth save of the year.
Stanford connected for three home runs in the game, including solo shots from Tommy Troy and Jake Sapien to open up a 2-0 lead through an inning and a half. The home run was Troy's ninth of the year, while Sapien's homer was his second.
Arizona State responded well in the bottom of the second, scoring six runs to take the early 6-2 lead before tacking on one more in the third to extend to 7-2.
Unphased by the offensive output, Stanford answered with seven runs in the fourth to reclaim a 9-7 advantage. The inning was highlighted by a 450-foot two-run home run from junior Drew Bowser and a two-RBI double from junior Carter Graham. The home run was Bowser's ninth of the season.
Stanford lost the lead it built in the fourth, but got back on the board in the sixth trailing 10-9. The Cardinal scored twice, with one run coming across on junior Alberto Rios' go-ahead RBI single passed a drawn-in infield.
Arizona State once again fired back, putting on a two-out double steal and scoring the game-tying run in the sixth.
Continuing the back-and-forth, Stanford put runners at the corners with nobody out in the eighth. Arizona State induced the double play ball, but the eventual game-winning run came across on the play.
Offensively, Troy led the way with a 3-for-6 night that included two doubles, the homer, three runs scored and two RBIs. Graham finished 2-for-4 with three runs scored, a double and two RBIs, while Eddie Park (2-for-6), Bowser (2-for-5), Sapien (2-for-5) and Owen Cobb (2-for-5) also managed multiple hits.
UP NEXT
Having already secured the series win, Stanford will look to earn the series sweep on Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
GAME NOTES
» Stanford has now won six of the last seven games and seven of the last nine.
» Graham extended his hitting streak to 10 games, while Bowser and Rios have now hit in seven.
» Troy's stellar day at the plate extended his hitting streak to six games.
» Every Stanford starter reached base safely in the win.
» Six Cardinal had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Cardinal out-hit the Sun Devils at a 16-12 clip.
» Stanford went 5-for-14 (.357) with runners in scoring position.
» Stanford pitchers faced 44 Arizona State hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and eight fly balls while striking out nine.
» Arizona State was led offensively by junior Luke Keaschall, who went 2-for-4 with two home runs and two RBIs.