STANFORD, Calif. – In a pitchers’ duel through seven innings that saw Stanford and No. 25 Georgia Tech even at 3-3, the Yellow Jackets (25-6, 10-4 ACC) exploded for three runs in the eighth and four in the ninth to run away with a 10-3 victory over the Cardinal (17-11, 5-9 ACC) on Saturday to earn a series victory from Sunken Diamond.
Stanford starter Christian Lim impressed in a no decision, tossing six innings and allowing two runs on four hits and one walk with three strikeouts before leaving with the game tied 2-2.
Junior Toran O’Harran was the first reliever used for Stanford, charged with a run while recording one out in the seventh. O’Harran allowed a leadoff double and a ground ball that moved the runner to third before Stanford summoned Aidan Keenan to try to escape the jam. Keenan got ahead of John Giesler 1-2, but the Yellow Jacket first baseman punched a single through the left side to put Georgia Tech on top.
The Cardinal answered with a run in the bottom of the seventh on a double from Temo Becerra to once again draw even, but Charlie Saum hit into an inning-ending double play to end the threat – one of three Georgia Tech double plays turned on Saturday in the final three innings.
Carrying momentum from the defensive side, Georgia Tech broke the tie on a leadoff home run from Drew Burress off Keenan in the eighth – his 11th of the season – and never looked back.
Keenan was ultimately saddled with the loss after allowing three runs on four hits with one strikeout over one total inning of work. The right-hander dropped to 1-1 on the season.
Jaylen Paden pitched the final 3 2/3 innings and allowed just one run to earn the victory and improve to 3-0 on the year.
Stanford will look to avoid the sweep on Sunday when it sends Matt Scott to the mound for a 1:05 p.m. first pitch.
GAME NOTES:
- Stanford has lost eight consecutive ACC games (swept by Cal and Virginia)
- The Cardinal managed 11 hits, but stranded 11 runners in the loss – including two in the second, two in the fourth, and the bases loaded in the sixth with the game tied at two runs apiece
- Temo Becerra (2-for-3, 2 2B, RBI) has hit safely in six straight games and has hit safely in 24 of the 28 games this season … has compiled 11 multi-hit games, including three straight
- Trevor Haskins (2-for-5) has hit safely in nine straight games … has hit safely in all but three of his games played this season … posted his team-best 14th multi-hit game
- Christian Lim (6 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, BB, 3 K) matched his season high in innings pitched
- Tatum Marsh (2-for-3, R) has hit safely in eight straight games and has reached in 24 straight
- Jimmy Nati (2-for-4) has hit safely in 14 straight games and all but two this season