HOUSTON – Freshman Christian Lim followed up Matt Scott's Friday gem with one of his own on Saturday, tossing six scoreless innings and striking out a career-best 10 batters to record his first career victory as Stanford (5-5) defeated Rice (3-7) 8-2 to clinch a series victory.
Lim did not allow a hit over the first 4 1/3 innings, striking out seven batters compared to just one walk over the string. The left-hander's no-hit bid was broken up by a double from Pierce Gallo.
Lim, who improved to 1-2 on the season, handed the ball to Trevor Moore in the seventh inning. The right-hander walked one and struck out a pair over two innings of scoreless relief. Freshman Ben Reimers finished the game on the hill for Stanford, surrendering a two-run home run to Gallo with two outs in the ninth to end the shutout bid. The right-hander settled down from there, striking out Trey Duffield to end the game.
Stanford's offense once again was quick to get going on Saturday, with the Cardinal scoring once in the first and two more in the second to jump out to an early 3-0 lead in support of Lim. Stanford took advantage of the first of two Rice errors in the game en route to plating the run in the first before Cort MacDonald laced a two-out, two-RBI single back up the middle in the second.
MacDonald, a native of Arlington, Texas, finished the game 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a career-best three RBIs while hitting out of the leadoff spot in the order.
Leading 3-0 headed to the sixth, Stanford exploded for five runs in the frame to claim a commanding 8-0 advantage. The Cardinal sent nine batters to the plate, with two-RBI doubles from Ethan Hott and Jimmy Nati highlighting the offensive outburst.
For Nati, the double was his second of the game and helped him to a 2-for-4 night at the dish.
Rice starter J.D. McCracken was saddled with the loss after allowing eight runs (seven earned) on five hits and five walks while striking out four. The left-hander, who entered with a 1.26 ERA, dropped to 1-1 on the season.
The Cardinal will look to earn a series sweep on Sunday when the two teams conclude the three-game set at 11 a.m. PT.
GAME NOTES:
- Stanford earned its first series win of the year with Saturday's victory.
- Stanford has won four consecutive games for the first time this season.
- Saturday's victory moved Stanford to .500 on the season (5-5).
- The Cardinal has now won 10 straight games against Rice, and improves to 9-0 against the Owls under David Esquer.
- Including 13 strikeouts on Saturday, Stanford has struck out 28 batters over the first two games of the series at Rice … Stanford is now +51 in strikeouts, punching out 111 while striking out 60 times offensively.
- Stanford has allowed just six hits to Rice in the series.
- Scoring in the top of the first, Stanford managed to score first in a game for the third time this season, including the second consecutive game.
- Nati (2-for-4, 2 2B, 2 R, 3 RBIs) has now hit safely in all 10 games this season … has posted six multi-hit games in the first 10 contests … has recorded an extra-base hit in three straight and seven of 10 games this season, including a team-best eight doubles.
- MacDonald (2-for-4, 2 R, 3 RBIs) has hit safely in all nine of his games played this year … recorded his third multi-hit game of the year, including his third in the last four contests.
- Sophomore Gabe Springer entered as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning and recorded a single for his first career hit.