STANFORD, Calif. – No. 13 Texas State (47-12) connected for three home runs accounting for four runs to defeat No. 2 Stanford (42-15) 5-2 on Saturday night from Sunken Diamond and the Stanford Regional.
The loss snapped a 17-game win streak for the Cardinal – one shy of a program record.
Stanford, which had homered in 18 straight games dating back to April 30, did not homer on Saturday night. The Cardinal remains three home runs shy of a program record, having launched 99 so far this year.
Senior Alex Williams, who had allowed two home runs in 91 innings entering the start, surrendered a pair of solo-homers to Jose Gonzalez and a two-run shot to Wesley Faison.
The right-hander ultimately allowed five runs on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings to drop to 8-2 on the year.
Sophomore Tommy Troy continued his torrid pace to the postseason, going 3 for 4 with a pair of doubles – including a two-out, RBI-double in the sixth inning.
Trailing 5-2 headed to the ninth, Stanford managed to bring the tying run to the plate with nobody out, but closer Tristan Stivors escaped unscathed to record his 18th save of the year. Stivors struck out five over the final two innings of work.
Texas State starter Levi Wells was masterful in the victory, allowing two runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out six over seven innings. The victory moved the right-hander to 8-2 on the year.
The Bobcats had just six hits on the night, but the three long balls allowed the No. 2 seed in the regional to beat the Cardinal at its own game. Five of the six hits went for extra-bases as Texas State also managed a pair of doubles.
The Cardinal will now have to win three straight games to advance out of the regional round. The string begins at 1 p.m. on Sunday when the Cardinal meets UC Santa Barbara in an elimination game.