SURPRISE, Ariz. – Opening the 2026 season against No. 24 Arizona from the College Baseball Series – Surprise on Friday night, Stanford (1-0) scored five runs in the sixth inning to break a 5-5 game and record a 10-7 victory over the Wildcats (0-1).
A trio of walks – three of seven issued by Arizona in the contest – set up the big sixth inning as Brady Reynolds contributed a run-scoring groundout before JJ Moran delivered a two-out, two-RBI single to run Stanford’s lead to 8-5 and chase reliever Nolan Straniero. Patrick Morris entered from the Arizona bullpen, but was greeted by a two-run home run from Luke Lavin to cap the inning.
The round tripper was the fourth of Lavin’s career.
Stanford trailed 1-0 after one inning, but drew even with a run in the second on a catcher’s interference with the bases loaded and two outs. Sophomore Rintaro Sasaki handed the Cardinal a 2-1 lead in the third inning with a mammoth home run to right field – his first of the season and eighth of his career.
Sasaki finished the game 2-for-4 with the home run, a double, a walk, two runs scored and one RBI.
After the Wildcats scored a run in the bottom of the third to run the tally even at 2-2, the two teams traded a trio of runs in the fourth inning. Sophomore Charlie Bates had the big hit in the inning for Stanford, delivering a two-RBI triple to right field to chase home Ethan Hott and freshman Brock Sell. Sell, who earned the Opening Day start in left field, had previously reached on a single through the right side – his first career hit.
Senior Nick Dugan got the start and lasted 3 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on six hits and one walk while striking out four.
Freshmen Colt Peterson and Mike Erspamer closed out the victory, combining to throw the final 3 2/3 scoreless innings with seven strikeouts in their collegiate debuts. Erspamer struck out five over the last two innings to earn his first career save. The left-hander issued a leadoff walk in the bottom of the ninth, but struck out the next three hitters in order to close the book and secure the victory.
Sophomore Cohen Gomez was credited with the victory after working 1 2/3 innings and striking out four as the first reliever out of the Cardinal bullpen.
Stanford will continue play at the tournament on Saturday when it meets Michigan at 5 p.m. PT. The Wolverines defeated No. 12 Oregon State 5-3 in the first game on Friday.
GAME NOTES:
- Stanford improved to 51-16-1 overall on Opening Day since 1959 and has won seven of its last 11 games to open a season
- Friday’s victory snapped a seven-game skid for the Cardinal against Arizona, with its last win coming 9-2 at home on May 13, 2023
- The Cardinal stole six bases on Friday night, including two apiece from Jimmy Nati and JJ Moran … the six steals are the most in a game for Stanford since swiping six at Arizona State on March 23, 2003 … Stanford was 21-for-45 in stolen bases a year ago
- Charlie Bates (2-for-3, 3B, BB, 2 R, 2 RBIs, SB) extended his hitting streak to eight games dating back to the end of the 2025 season (.355, 11-for-31, 8 R, 2B, 3B, HR, 3 RBIs)
- Ethan Hott (0-for-4, BB) had a two-game hit streak dating back to the end of the 2025 season snapped, but with a walk has now reached in three straight
- Luke Lavin (1-for-4, HR, R, 2 RBIs) has reached in seven straight games dating back to the end of the 2025 season
- Tatum Marsh (1-for-5) extended his hitting streak to 11 games dating back to the end of the 2025 season (.404, 19-for-47, 13 R, 4 2B, 2 RBIs)
- Jimmy Nati (1-for-3, 2B, BB, R, RBI) extended his hitting streak to 10 games dating back to the end of the 2025 season (.333, 14-for-42, 8 R, 2 2B, 6 HR, 15 RBIs)
- Brock Sell (1-for-4, BB, R) recorded his first career hit in the victory