STANFORD, Calif. - Making what will likely be his final career home appearance from Sunken Diamond, senior Quinn Mathews struck out 16 Texas hitters in a complete game effort to guide No. 6 Stanford (43-18) to an 8-3 victory over Texas (42-21) on Sunday in game two of a super regional.
With the win, Stanford forces a winner-take-all game on Monday at 5 p.m. The contest will air live on ESPN.
Mathews threw 156 pitches to finish what he started, allowing three runs on eight hits and just one walk to accompany the career-best 16 strikeouts.
The strikeout total eclipsed his previous career high of 13 set on April 6, 2023 at California. The native of Aliso Viejo, Calif. struck out two in the first, two in the second, one in the third, the side in the fourth, two more in the fifth, one in the sixth, two in the seventh, two in the eighth and the first batter in the ninth - becoming the first Cardinal pitcher to strike out 16 since Jason Young on March 5, 1999 vs. Arizona State.
Playing as the designated visiting team, Stanford got on the board first in the top of the second inning when Temo Becerra lofted a sac fly to left-center field to chase home Alberto Rios.
Texas responded with two runs in the third, putting together multiple hits in an inning for the lone time in the game against Mathews.
The Cardinal did not trail for long as junior Tommy Troy laced a two-out RBI double into the right-center field gap to tie the game at 2-2 in the fourth.
Stanford took the lead in the fifth inning as freshman Malcolm Moore sliced a go-ahead double into the left field corner to score Braden Montgomery all the way from first base. Junior Drew Bowser added the exclamation mark one batter later - launching his 13th homer of the year out to left field to make it a 5-2 game. The home run was Bowser's second in as many contests.
After Mitchell Daly got one run back for Texas on a solo home run in the seventh, Stanford added three big insurance runs in the ninth. With the crowd cheering his name, Eddie Park laced a two-RBI single into left-center field to highlight the frame.
Mathews retired the first two hitters in the bottom of the ninth, but allowed a double to Jack O'Dowd that prompted a mound visit. The left-hander pleaded his case and was allowed to remain in the game, ultimately retiring Daly to secure the victory and force a decisive game on Monday.
UP NEXT
Stanford and Texas will decide the super regional on Monday at 5 p.m. on ESPN. Each team is looking to punch a third consecutive ticket to Omaha.
GAME NOTES
» With the win, Stanford has now won 13 consecutive postseason elimination games at Sunken Diamond dating back to the 2019 regional.
» Moore finished the game 3-for-5 with two runs scored, a double and one RBI.
» Mathews has now managed 10+ strikeouts in eight starts this year, including seven of his last 11.
» The complete game was Mathews' second of the season (April 14 at No. 25 Oregon) and of his career.
» Every Stanford starter reached base safely in the win.
» Five Cardinal had multiple hits in the ballgame, including Park (2-for-4), Montgomery (2-for-4), Moore (3-for-5), Saborn Campbell (2-for-4) and Becerra (2-for-3).
» The Cardinal out-hit the Longhorns at a 15-8 clip.
» Mathews limited Texas to just 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.
» Mathews faced 36 Texas hitters in the game, allowing six ground balls and five fly balls to accompany the 16 strikeouts.
» The Cardinal drew six walks from Texas pitching.