LUBBOCK, Texas – Playing the first of two games at Texas Tech on Monday night, Stanford (11-14) carried a 9-7 lead into the bottom of the ninth, but Kevin Bazzell connected for a game-tying two-run home run off Kassius Thomas to force extra innings.
After both teams failed to score in the 10th, Texas Tech (20-9) loaded the bases on three consecutive infield singles in the 11th, setting the table for a bloop single from Austin Green over a pulled in infield for the walk-off win.
The two-run homer in the ninth inning was the second of the game for Bazzell and the fourth long ball of the game overall for Texas Tech.
Trailing 7-5 headed to the eighth inning, Stanford rallied for two runs in the eighth to tie the game, and scored twice more in the ninth to take the lead.
Run-scoring doubles from Cort MacDonald and Jimmy Nati drove in the runs in the eighth inning before Stanford took advantage of a throwing error by shortstop Tracer Lopez on an attempted double play in the ninth for the go-ahead run. Pinch-hitter Charlie Saum came up clutch on the ensuing play, lining an RBI-single into center field to extend Stanford's lead to 9-7.
Including two from MacDonald, Stanford finished the game with six doubles. Sophomore Malcolm Moore fell a triple shy of the cycle, including hitting his eighth homer of the year in the third inning to hand Stanford a 2-1 early advantage.
Freshman Ben Reimers was stellar out of the Cardinal bullpen, allowing just one run on one hit – a solo homer from Owen Washburn in the fifth – and two walks while striking out four.
Thomas, who surrendered the game-tying home run in the ninth, struck out four while allowing six hits and three runs over the final two innings. The right-hander was saddled with the loss and dropped to 0-1 on the season.
Stanford will look to earn a split of the two games at Texas Tech on Tuesday when the two teams clash at 10 a.m. PT.
GAME NOTES:
- Stanford has dropped eight of the last 11 after winning seven of its previous eight.
- The Cardinal suffered a walk-off loss for the first time since dropping a 3-2 decision in 11 innings at No. 3 Oregon State on April 2, 2022.
- The extra-inning affair was the second in as many games for Stanford … the Cardinal is now 1-1 in extras this season.
- The Cardinal has scored 22 runs on 37 hits in its last two games after plating nine on 15 hits Monday.
- Stanford dropped to 11-6 when scoring at least three runs in a game this season.
- The Cardinal left 13 runners on base, while Texas Tech left six.
- Temo Becerra (2-for-4, R) has hit safely in five straight games and 11 of his last 12 … has posted multiple hits in seven of his last eight, including five straight … has amassed 10 multi-hit games this season.
- Cort MacDonald (2-for-6, 2 R, 2 2B, RBI) has reached in all but three games this year, hitting safely in each of those contests ... has amassed nine multi-hit games this season.
- Malcolm Moore (3-for-5, 2 R, 2B, HR, 2 RBIs) has homered in back-to-back games … has reached in all but three games this year.
- Five Cardinal players finished with multiple hits, including MacDonald, Moore, Jimmy Nati (2-for-5, 2B, 2 RBIs), Luke Lavin (2-for-4) and Becerra.
- The six doubles were the most for Stanford since collecting seven at No. 20 Arizona State on May 5, 2023.
- Parker Hutyra (2 IP, 2 H, BB, 3 K) was credited with the victory and improved to 3-0 for Texas Tech.