CORVALLIS, Ore. – Sophomore right-hander Matt Scott allowed just three hits and struck out nine batters over six innings, but Stanford (13-18, 6-7 Pac-12) could not push any runs across in a 6-0 shutout loss to No. 5 Oregon State (28-4, 9-3 Pac-12) on Friday night to open a three-game Pac-12 series from Goss Stadium.
Scott issued just two walks over his six innings, but they both came back to haunt him, as Oregon State took advantage of leadoff free passes in the first and second innings to jump out to a 3-0 lead.
A two-out double from Brady Kasper plated Travis Bazzana in the first and a two-run home run from Dallas Macias extended the lead to 3-0 after two. The round-tripper was Macias' third of the season.
After surrendering the two-run home run, Scott settled in to retire 15 of the next 16 hitters. The native of Redding, Conn., who dropped to 2-6 on the year, finished his night by striking out the side in order in the sixth.
Still trailing 3-0, the Cardinal managed to load the bases without the benefit of a hit in the seventh, drawing a pair of walks and a hit-by-pitch, but Oregon State reliever Joey Mundt struck out Luke Lavin and induced a check-swing double-play off the bat of Charlie Saum to escape the jam unscathed.
Transitioning the momentum into the bottom of the seventh, Oregon State scored three times on a pair of hits and three walks to extend the cushion to 6-0.
Mundt, pitching in relief of starter Aiden May, dealt two scoreless innings and allowed just one hit while striking out three.
May was credited with the victory after allowing three hits and two walks with five strikeouts over six innings. The right-hander improved to 2-0 on the season.
The Cardinal will look to even the three-game set with Oregon State on Saturday when the two teams clash at 5 p.m.
GAME NOTES:
- Stanford has lost three straight and has dropped 12 of the last 17 after winning seven of its previous eight.
- Stanford was shut out for the third time this season.
- Oregon State finished with five hits – four of which went for extra bases (two doubles, a triple and a home run).
- Matt Scott (6 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 9 K) recorded his sixth quality start of the year, including his sixth in his last seven turns … has received 27 runs of support in his nine starts this season (3.00 runs per game).
- Cort MacDonald (0-for-3, BB) had an eight-game hitting streak snapped … with the walk, has reached safely in all but three games this year, including hitting safely in all but four contests on the season.
- Trevor Haskins (0-for-3) had a nine-game hitting streak snapped.