CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Tied at 6-6 in the fifth inning, Stanford (11-2, 1-0 ACC) got a solo home run from Jimmy Nati and a grand slam from Brandon Larson to plate six in the frame and blow the game open en route to a 13-9 victory over No. 4 North Carolina (13-1, 1-0 ACC) on Friday night in Stanford’s inaugural ACC contest.
The home runs were the second of the season for both players, with Larson having now homered in back-to-back games. The native of Rocklin, Calif. finished the contest 2-for-5 with a run scored, the homer and a career-high six RBIs.
In a game touted as a matchup between two of the top pitchers in the nation in Matt Scott and Jason DeCaro, both teams got off to strong offensive starts on Friday. The Tar Heels jumped out to an early 3-0 lead with three runs in the first, but Scott ultimately settled in and allowed the Cardinal offense to draw even with two in the second and one in the third. Freshman Charlie Bates provided the big hit in the second, lofting a two-RBI double off the wall in the left field, before Charlie Saum lined a sac fly to left to tie the game in the third.
The two teams traded three runs in the fourth inning, including a two-RBI single from Larson with two outs in the top of the frame.
After plating the six aided by the long balls in the fifth inning, the Cardinal added one more in the sixth as Temo Becerra punched a run-scoring double into left-center field to chase home Brady Reynolds for the third time on Friday.
Making his fourth start of the season, Scott worked 3 2/3 innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits and three walks with four strikeouts, before not factoring into the decision.
Opposite Scott, DeCaro was saddled with the loss and dropped to 3-1 after allowing eight runs (seven earned) on seven hits and three walks while striking out five.
Stanford once again got big outs from its bullpen as Ty Uber, who was credited with the victory to move to 1-0 on the season, worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings before Trevor Moore carried the torch for the next three scoreless. Moore struck out four batters over his time on the hill, sending the Cardinal to the ninth with a 13-6 lead.
North Carolina managed to make things a bit interesting in the final stanza, plating three runs and forcing Stanford to summon its closer Aidan Keenan for the final three outs. Keenan, who celebrated a birthday on Friday, retired all three batters faced to secure the Cardinal victory in a non-save situation.
Stanford will look to clinch the series victory on Saturday when the two teams meet for a 10 a.m. PT first pitch.
GAME NOTES:
- Friday’s contest was Stanford’s first conference game as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference … was the first regular-season game between Stanford and North Carolina in program history
- Stanford has scored 109 runs in 13 games this season – an average of 8.38 runs per game … managed six extra-base hits in the victory (four doubles, two home runs) … is now 11-2 to begin the year for the first time since opening 2021 at 11-2 … trailed 3-0 after one inning, but managed its sixth come-from-behind victory over the first 13 games … posted its first victory over a top-five opponent since knocking off No. 5 Oregon State on the road 11-10 on April 14, 2024
- Charlie Bates (1-for-4, R, 2B, 2 RBIs) has hit safely in eight of his 11 games played this season
- Temo Becerra (2-for-4, 2 R, 2B, RBI) has hit safely in 11 of the 13 games this season
- Brandon Larson (2-for-5, R, HR, 6 RBIs) has homered in back-to-back games … grand slam was the second of the season for Stanford (Trevor Haskins, 2/23 vs. Washington) … has now clubbed 15 career home runs, including nine while with UC San Diego in 2023 ... six RBIs are the most for a Cardinal since Jimmy Nati had six vs. California on April 27, 2024
- Tatum Marsh (1-for-4, 2 R, 2B, RBI) has hit safely in five straight games and has reached in 11 straight
- Jimmy Nati (1-for-4, 2 R, HR, RBI) has hit safely in all but one game this season … has hit 10 career home runs
- Brady Reynolds (2-for-4, 3 R, 2B) has hit safely in six straight games and has reached in each of his last eight
- Rintaro Sasaki (1-for-4) has hit safely in seven straight games and 11 of his first 13 collegiate contests … has reached in all 13 games this year