STANFORD, Calif. - With two outs and the game knotted at 6-6 in the bottom of the ninth inning on Monday, junior Drew Bowser lifted a fly ball to right-center field that was lost in the lights and fell for a walk-off RBI single as No. 6 Stanford (44-18) punched a third consecutive ticket to the College World Series by way of a 7-6 victory over Texas (42-22) in a winner-take-all super regional game.
Bowser, who finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two run scored, also homered for the third consecutive game - launching his 14th home run of the year in the bottom of the second to highlight a three-run frame that put the Cardinal on the board first.
After Texas got three runs to draw even at 3-3 in the fourth inning, Stanford responded with three more in the bottom of the fourth. The Longhorns elected to intentionally walk Tommy Troy to load the bases with two outs in that inning, but Carter Graham and Braden Montgomery made the decision hurt with base hits - the latter of which plated two for Montgomery and ran Stanford's lead to 6-3.
Montgomery finished the game 2-for-4, while Graham went 2-for-5.
Refusing to surrender, Texas clawed back even in the top of the eighth, scoring three runs on three hits. Dylan Campbell contributed the game-tying swing - lining a 3-2 pitch into center field.
Stanford and Texas were seemingly headed to extra innings after Texas' ace Lucas Gordon retired the first two in the ninth out of the bullpen. Junior Alberto Rios, the Pac-12 Player of the Year, kept the inning alive with a double off the wall in left field. Rios, thinking he connected on a walk-off home run, shed his helmet heading into second base, but quickly realized the ball was in play as he scooted into the bag. Freshman Malcolm Moore drew a walk one batter later, setting the table for Bowser's high fly ball that proved to be the game-winner as it fell between center fielder Eric Kennedy and Campbell in right.
Junior Joey Dixon (7-0) picked up the victory out of the bullpen for Stanford, tossing a scoreless ninth inning with two strikeouts. Junior Brandt Pancer also made an impact on the mound for the Cardinal, throwing two scoreless innings while allowing two hits, with no walks and three strikeouts.
UP NEXT
Stanford will travel to Omaha, Neb. and Charles Schwab Field Omaha to play in the 2023 College World Series. The Cardinal will meet No. 1 Wake Forest in the third game of the tournament on Saturday at 11 a.m. PT.
GAME NOTES
» With the win, Stanford has now won 14 consecutive postseason elimination games at Sunken Diamond dating back to the 2019 regional, including five in each of the last two seasons.
» Stanford will be making its 19th College World Series appearance overall, carrying a 41-33 overall record in the previous 18.
» Stanford has won two national titles, winning it all in 1987 and 1988.
» The Cardinal is now 14-4 in super regional games played at Sunken Diamond, and has advanced to Omaha in each of the seven seasons it has hosted a super (1999-03, 2022-23).
» Every Stanford starter reached base safely in the win.
» The Stanford pitching staff combined to strike out 12 Texas hitters.
» Stanford never trailed after taking a 3-0 lead in the second.
» Five Cardinal had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Cardinal out-hit the Longhorns at a 13-11 clip.
» Stanford went 3-for-10 (.300) with runners in scoring position.
» Stanford pitchers faced 44 Texas hitters in the game, allowing nine ground balls and six fly balls while striking out 12.
» The Cardinal drew seven walks from Texas pitching.
» Texas was led offensively by junior Jack O'Dowd, who went 2-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs.
» Junior Zane Morehouse led the Longhorns pitching staff, throwing six innings of three-run ball.
