PHOENIX, Ariz. - Stanford received contributions from every part of its lineup, as all nine starters reached base safely, helping the No. 7 Cardinal (31-13, 18-6 Pac-12) put nine runs on the board and beat the No. 20 Arizona State Sun Devils (29-18, 14-9 Pac-12) 9-4 Sunday to complete a series sweep.
Junior Joey Dixon (4-0) started on the mound and picked up the win for Stanford. The right-hander went five innings, giving up three runs on six hits, allowing three walks and striking out seven. Dixon surrendered all three runs on a bases-clearing double from Jacob Tobias in the first inning, but settled in to put up zeroes over the next four frames and collect the victory.
Junior Brandt Pancer also made an impact on the mound for the Cardinal, throwing the final 2 2/3 shutout innings while allowing one hit, with one walk and two strikeouts to record his fifth save of the year. Senior Max Meier bridged the gap between Dixon and Pancer, allowing one run over an inning and a third.
Junior Tommy Troy led the way offensively for the Cardinal, going 2-for-4 in the ballgame with a double, a home run and three RBIs. Junior Alberto Rios continued his stellar season, going 2-for-4 with a home run, a walk and two RBIs. Sophomore Jake Sapien also chipped in, going 1-for-4 for Stanford with a home run and two RBI.
With the home run, his 10th of the year, Troy homered in all three games against Arizona State. Rios, who homered three times in Arizona, upped his season homer total to 12, while Sapien now has three - including two on the weekend.
Trailing 3-0 after one inning, Stanford got all three back on the three-run homer from Troy in the third. The game remained tied until the sixth inning, when the Cardinal got going again on offense. Stanford scored twice on Sapien's two-run homer, which brought the Cardinal lead to 5-3.
Arizona State narrowed Stanford's lead to 5-4 after six, but Stanford responded with four big insurance runs in the ninth to ensure the sweep. After Arizona State got two quick outs in the frame, Carter Graham and Rios unloaded for a pair of two-run homers to provide the cushion. The home run was Graham's ninth of the season and extended his hitting streak to 11 games.
UP NEXT
Stanford will travel to Santa Clara on Tuesday for a midweek clash with the Broncos at 6 p.m.
GAME NOTES
» Stanford has now won seven of the last eight games and eight of the last 10.
» With the sweep, Stanford now owns a 3.5 game lead in the Pac-12 standings.
» The series sweep was Stanford's sixth of the season, including the fourth in Pac-12 play.
» Drew Bowser and Rios have now hit safely in eight straight games, while Troy extended to seven games.
» Senior Owen Cobb compiled three base knocks in the game for Stanford.
» Every Stanford starter reached base safely in the win.
» Stanford hitters hit four dingers in the ballgame.
» The Cardinal out-hit the Sun Devils at a 12-8 clip.
» Stanford went 4-for-9 (.444) with runners in scoring position.
» Stanford pitchers faced 37 Arizona State hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and six fly balls while striking out 11.
» The Cardinal drew five walks from Arizona State pitching.
» Arizona State was led offensively by senior Wyatt Crenshaw, who went 1-for-4 with a home run and an RBI.
