STANFORD, Calif. – Fueled by a 10-run third inning, Stanford (15-19) defeated Sacramento State (18-21) 12-8 in nonconference action on Tuesday night from Sunken Diamond.
The Cardinal sent 14 hitters to the plate in the third, scoring 10 runs on 11 hits to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 10-1 advantage. Stanford recorded nine consecutive hits, including six doubles, to open the frame.
Trevor Haskins and Owen Cobb each had two hits in the inning, with Haskins' double driving home Brady Reynolds who started the rally with a double of his own. After the two baggers from Reynolds and Haskins, Cobb and Ethan Hott each contributed infield singles to load the bases. Temo Becerra followed with a three-RBI double before Jimmy Nati singled to second base to put runners on the corners. Three straight doubles from Brandon Larson, Charlie Saum and Luke Lavin followed before Sacramento State got the first out on a fly ball to center field with the score sitting at 8-1. Hitting for the second time in the inning, Haskins singled through the left side, Cobb shot an RBI-single into left, and Hott grounded a ball to shortstop to drive home the 10th and final run.
Haskins finished the game 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, three runs scored and one RBI.
The Hornets did all they could to make a game of it on Tuesday, plating single runs in the fourth and fifth innings, and two more in the seventh, to cut the lead to 10-5. The Cardinal responded with two runs in the home half of the seventh, highlighted by an RBI-single from Becerra, stretching the lead back to seven at 12-5.
The single from Becerra capped a 3-for-5 night that included four RBIs and a run scored.
Though they proved too little and too late, Sacramento State managed to put three more runs on the board in the eighth to leave the tally at its eventual final of 12-8.
Freshman Ryan Speshyock got the start for the Cardinal and worked 4 1/3 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and two walks with three strikeouts. Right-hander Kassius Thomas was the first of three relievers used on Tuesday, tossing 2 2/3 innings while being charged with two unearned runs on one hit and a walk. Thomas was credited with the victory and moved to 1-1 on the season. Joey Volchko worked the eighth inning before Trevor Moore sealed the victory with a scoreless ninth, including striking out one.
Stanford will remain home this weekend, hosting No. 16 Oregon in a three-game Pac-12 series beginning Friday. The opener, set for a 6:05 p.m. first pitch, is Stanford's annual Fireworks Night.
GAME NOTES:
- Stanford has won back-to-back games after dropping its previous four straight.
- Tuesday's 10-run third inning marks the first time Stanford has posted double-digits in a frame since scoring 10 in the second inning against Binghamton on June 3, 2022.
- Cobb (2-for-5, R, RBI) has hit safely in eight of his last 12 games, managing multiple hits in seven of those contests … recorded a two-hit inning for the second time this season (2 in the top of the 11th at Utah on March 30).
- Eight of Stanford's 18 hits went for doubles – the most doubles for the Cardinal since posting eight at Utah on May 5, 2018.
- All nine Stanford starters had at least one hit, with seven managing multi-hit games.
- All nine Stanford starters scored at least one run, with Haskins (three) and Hott (two) scoring multiple times.
- Nati (2-for-5, R, 2B, RBI) has hit safely in all but nine games this season, including four straight, and has reached in all but seven … posted his team-best 14th multi-hit game of the season.
- Haskins (3-for-4, 3 R, 2 2B, RBI) has hit safely in 12 of his last 13, and 16 of his last 20, games overall ... batting.455 (20-for-44) with 13 runs scored, seven doubles, a triple, three homers and 12 RBIs over the last 11 games.