STANFORD, Calif. – Having already secured the series win over No. 17 UCLA, Stanford (19-6, 6-3 Pac-12) was unable to earn a series sweep, eventually dropping the Sunday finale to the Bruins (17-11, 6-6 Pac-12) by a score of 6-1 from Sunken Diamond.
UCLA starter Sean Mullen proved effective against the Cardinal, as the right-hander limited Stanford to just two hits and three walks with seven strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings. Mullen would eventually earn the victory and improve to 6-1 on the season.
The Cardinal's lone run came in the ninth inning as Brock Jones singled and scored on an RBI-double from freshman Tommy Troy.
Stanford used seven pitchers in the setback, with junior starter Alex Williams being saddled with the loss. Williams, who dropped to 0-1 with the decision, lasted 1 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on four hits and a walk with three strikeouts.
Freshman Drew Dowd proved to be a bright spot on the mound, logging four shutout innings while scattering three hits and a walk with three strikeouts to keep Stanford in the contest.
The Bruins jumped out to the early 3-0 lead in the first inning, highlighted by a three-run homer from second baseman Mikey Perez. The long ball was Perez' sixth of the season and came as part of a 3 for 4 day at the plate.
UCLA added one run in the second to extend the lead to 4-0 – an advantage that stood still until the eighth. Freshman Kyle Karros, who batted 3 for 4 out of the ninth spot in the order, tacked on the fifth Bruin run with a single through the left side to make it 5-0 after eight before Matt McLain launched his sixth homer of the year in the ninth for added insurance.
Stanford will look to get back on track on Wednesday when it hosts Pacific at 6:05 p.m. The Cardinal will then hit the road for three Pac-12 games at Arizona State beginning on Friday at 6:35 p.m.