STANFORD, Calif. – No. 12 Stanford won its fifth game in a row to start the season with a 7-2 win over Rice on Thursday night at Sunken Diamond.
"We're really pleased with the start to the year, and to see Erik Miller bounce back from Sunday with a strong outing tonight," said Clarke and Elizabeth Nelson Director of Baseball David Esquer. "Andrew Daschbach came through with some big plays, and of course Brandon Wulff's swing of the bat was huge for us. We're looking forward to the rest of this series against a really good ball club."
Wulff had the biggest swing of the night, blasting a grand slam over the trees in left field to put Stanford ahead, 5-1, in the third inning. Miller got the call for the Cardinal (5-0), going 4.0 innings and surrendering just one run to the Owls (3-2). Miller's nine strikeouts set a new career high – his previous career high came in 2017 at Rice.
Miller's one run allowed came in the opening frame, stranding two runners in the second and fourth innings to escape jams. Austin Weiermiller earned the win, replacing Miller to go 2.0 innings and allow one run. Jacob Palisch earned his first career save, pitching the final three frames, striking out two and allowing one hit.
"Austin and Jacob did such a good job for us tonight, and it was really a luxury not to have to throw Grech or Little out there," said Esquer.
Wulff finished 2-3, reaching base three times and scoring twice. Nico Hoerner extended his season-opening hit streak to five games, and Daschbach finished 2-2, reaching base three times and driving in two runs.
Stanford returns to action Friday night in Game 2 of the four-game series. Tristan Beck (1-0) will take the mound for the Cardinal, with a live stream and statistics available at GoStanford.com.
Cardinal Notes
- Stanford pitchers struck out 14 batters, doubling the previous season high.
- Tim Tawa tied the game in the bottom of the first with a two-out single to center field.
- Jesse Kuet finished with two hits, scoring one run.
- Wulff's home run was the eighth of his career and the first grand slam in Cardinal colors.
- Stanford finished the game with no errors.