STANFORD, Calif. – Freshman Joey Volchko gave Stanford (10-11) a strong effort in his first career start and the Cardinal bats put up six runs to defeat Creighton (17-4) 6-3 in the series finale between the two teams on Monday from Sunken Diamond.
Volchko struck out seven batters over four innings, allowing two runs on two hits and three walks while throwing 74 pitches. The hard-throwing right-hander recorded seven of his first nine outs via the strikeout, including striking out four straight for the first four outs of his outing.
Sophomore Trevor Moore was impressive in relief of Volchko, tossing three innings and allowing just one run on two hits with four strikeouts to pick up the victory and move to 2-0 on the season. Nick Dugan, who has served as Stanford's game-three starter throughout the year, pitched the final two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and a walk with five strikeouts.
Scoreless through three innings, Stanford broke through in the fourth on an RBI-single from Temo Becerra to chase home Brady Reynolds.
After Creighton plated three runs on three hits in the top of the fifth to take a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the inning, Stanford punched right back with three runs of its own. Gabe Springer got the rally going with a single before moving to second on a walk to Malcolm Moore. A deep fly ball from Jimmy Nati moved Springer to third before a wild pitch allowed the Cardinal to scratch within a run at 3-2. Cort MacDonald singled on the ensuing play, but Creighton got a strikeout for the second out of the inning, leaving runners at the corners with two outs. Pinch hitter Jake Sapien won a lengthy at bat for a walk, loading the bases and setting the table for a clutch, two-RBI single from Becerra to reclaim the Cardinal lead at 4-3.
Stanford would tack on two insurance runs in the sixth, with M. Moore and MacDonald each driving in a run with a single, as Stanford extended its lead to 6-3 after six frames.
Taking over on the hill, Dugan got himself in a bit of a jam to start the eighth, hitting a batter and issuing a walk, but worked through the traffic to hang the zero. He returned in the ninth, allowing a one-out double before eventually striking out the side to secure the Stanford victory and his second career save.
The Cardinal will return to Pac-12 play this week, traveling to Utah for a three-game series beginning Thursday at 6 p.m.
GAME NOTES:
- Stanford snapped a three-game losing streak with Monday's victory.
- Volchko set new career highs in innings pitched (4.0), strikeouts (7) and walks allowed (3).
- Cort MacDonald (3-for-4, R, RBI) has hit safely in six straight games … has now reached in all but two of his games played this year, hitting safely in all those contests … recorded his sixth multi-hit game of the season.
- Becerra (2-for-4) set a new career high with three RBIs – his first multi-RBI game of the year.
- Brandon Larson (1-for-2) extended his hitting streak to five games.
- Brett Blair (1-for-1, R) collected his first career hit in a pinch-hit opportunity in the sixth inning.
- All 11 of Stanford's hits were singles – the first time the Cardinal has posted 11 hits without an extra-base hit in a game since collecting 12 vs. Vanderbilt on March 2, 2016 … the Cardinal managed 26 hits in the three-game series against Creighton, with Malcolm Moore's ninth-inning solo homer on Sunday serving as the lone extra-base hit.
- Stanford pitching struck out 16 batters to match a season high (16 vs. Cal State Fullerton on February 16).