STANFORD, Calif. – Sophomore right-hander Parker Warner was stellar, and sophomore Charlie Bates delivered a go-ahead triple in the seventh inning, as Stanford defeated Cal State Fullerton 3-2 on Sunday to earn a split of a four-game series from Sunken Diamond.
Stanford improved to 4-4 with the victory, while Cal State Fullerton dropped to 3-5 on the season.
Warner worked the first 5 2/3 innings, allowing just two runs (one earned) on six hits and one walk while striking out six, before handing the ball over to the Cardinal bullpen.
Senior Trevor Moore recorded the final out of the sixth inning, and ultimately logged 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief while striking out four, to earn the victory and move to 1-0 on the year. With the Cardinal leading 3-2 headed to the ninth, senior Toran O’Harran entered and struck out a pair in a scoreless inning of work to secure his first save of the year.
Stanford was being no-hit through five innings by Fullerton starter Bobby Mahoney, but trailed just 2-0 to that point thanks to the efforts of Warner on the mound. Stanford's Clarke and Elizabeth Nelson Director of Baseball took the opportunity to shake up his lineup in the sixth – replacing six of the nine offensive starters to begin the frame.
The bold strategy proved effective, as Bates singled with one out to break up the no-hit bid. Pinch hitter Philip Cheong was hit by a pitch in his first collegiate plate appearance, pushing runners to first and second. A groundout resulted in the second out of the inning, but Esquer continued the string of changes by sending Rashad Hayes to the plate for his first collegiate appearance. Hayes was also hit by a pitch before pinch hitter Eric Jeon drew a bases-loaded walk to force in the first run of the inning. Brock Ketelsen was next to emerge from the dugout, working a nine-pitch at bat that not only ended in a walk, but also included a passed ball that saw the Cardinal tie the game at 2-2.
With the energy renewed in the Cardinal dugout, Stanford hung a zero in the top of the seventh and freshman Teddy Tokheim delivered his first collegiate hit to lead off the home-half of the frame. Tokheim moved to second on a sac bunt from Cort MacDonald, and Bates laced the first pitch he saw into the gap in right-center field to chase home Tokheim for what proved to be the game-winning run.
The Titans did manage to put two men aboard in each of the final two frames, but Moore and O’Harran each escaped jams by way of a strikeout.
The Cardinal will host Japan’s Waseda University in an exhibition game on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. before welcoming Fresno State for three games beginning Friday at 2:05 p.m.
GAME NOTES:
- Five of Stanford’s eight games this season have been decided by one run (2-3 in those games) – including each of the final three in the four-game series with Cal State Fullerton
- The Cardinal stole six bases in the season opener vs. No. 24 Arizona (February 13), but has swiped just one base over the last seven games (1-for-5 over the span)
- Charlie Bates (2-for-4, R, 3B, RBI) has multiple hits in five of the first eight games this year
- Ethan Hott (0-for-0, SH) has reached in all five of his games with an at bat this year, and seven straight games dating back to the end of the 2025 season
- Luke Lavin drew a walk on Sunday and has reached in all seven of his games played this season to stretch his reached base streak to 13 games dating back to the end of the 2025 season
- JJ Moran (1-for-4) has hit safely in each of the first eight games this season
- Parker Warner (5.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, ER, BB, 6 K, 93 Pitches) registered new career highs in innings pitched and strikeouts … had previously struck out five in four innings vs. No. 12 Oregon State on February 15, 2026