FULLERTON, Calif. – The start to the 2025 season, delayed by a day due to poor field conditions on Friday, was well worth the wait as Stanford (2-0) swept a doubleheader with Cal State Fullerton (0-2) on Saturday behind an offensive explosion and strong starts from Cardinal pitchers.
Stanford scored early and often, plating 19 combined runs on 23 hits over the two games. The Cardinal managed three-plus runs in three of the seven innings played in game one – a 13-1 run-rule victory. Stanford put three runs on the board in the first inning, highlighted by a string of three consecutive doubles from Charlie Saum, Jimmy Nati and Brady Reynolds, added five more in the second, and tacked on four in the seventh to force the run-rule.
Freshman Rintaro Sasaki, making his much-anticipated collegiate debut, finished game one 2-for-5 with two runs scored and four RBIs. His first career RBI came in the three-run first, while his first career hit was an RBI-single to right field in the second inning. He would add a two-RBI single in the seventh to complete his debut.
Nati finished 4-for-5 with a double, a run scored and two RBIs in game one, joined by Reynolds and Temo Becerra with two-RBI games. Cort MacDonald posted three hits and scored three times while hitting out of the leadoff spot, while Reynolds contributed a double as part of his 3-for-5 game. Hitting out of the cleanup spot in the order, Saum notched a pair of doubles and drove in a run.
While the offense was the story in game one, junior Matt Scott was outstanding in a start for the Cardinal. The right-hander dealt 5 1/3 innings, allowing one run on four hits and two walks while striking out four. Scott, making his second consecutive Opening Day start, held Cal State Fullerton scoreless through the first five innings to eventually earn the victory.
Including Sasaki, three Cardinal freshmen earned the start, with all three collecting their first career hits. Charlie Bates’ first career hit was a triple leading off the second inning, while Tatum Marsh singled to right in the fifth for his first.
Cal State Fullerton starter Jason Blood was saddled with the loss after surrendering eight runs on seven hits and two walks over an inning-plus of work.
It was more of the same in game two, as the Cardinal plated four runs in the top of the first before even taking the field defensively. Stanford took advantage of two Titan errors in the first inning, giving starter Christian Lim the early cushion.
Lim was masterful in the back end of the doubleheader, tossing six hitless and scoreless innings while striking out four. The lefty threw 87 pitches before handing the ball to the bullpen and leaving in line for the victory.
The Cardinal would tack on single runs in the sixth and seventh innings, taking a 6-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh. Cal State Fullerton managed a run in each of the final three innings, but the late rally proved insufficient as the Cardinal held on for the 6-3 victory.
Ty Uber, who inherited a pair of runners in a 6-2 game in the eighth, recorded the final four outs to convert his first career save.
Titan left-hander Mikiah Negrete was charged with the loss after surrendering five unearned runs on three hits and three walks while striking out four.
Stanford and Cal State Fullerton will continue their four-game series on Sunday when they clash at 1:05 p.m. from Goodwin Field.
Game Notes:
- All nine Stanford starters collected a hit in the season opener
- Stanford is opening the season against Cal State Fullerton for the fourth straight season and 12th time since 2000 (13th time overall)
- With the doubleheader sweep, Stanford has secured at least a split of the four-game series
- Stanford is 50-16-1 overall on Opening Day since 1959 and has won six of its last 10 games to open a season
- With a hit in each game of the doubleheader, Temo Becerra has now hit safely in 12 straight games dating back to last season
- Jimmy Nati went 5-for-9 over the two games on Saturday ... has now hit safely in six straight games dating back to last season ... four-hit game fell one shy of his career high of five vs. California on April 27, 2024
- Charlie Saum's two doubles in game one on Saturday matched his season total from 32 games played a year ago
- Stanford won both games of a doubleheader for the first time since defeating Rice 11-1 and 7-4 on February 25, 2023