STANFORD, Calif. – No. 14 Stanford (15-4, 5-2 ACC) saw its four-game win streak snapped at the hands of California on Friday night as the Golden Bears (11-10, 3-4 ACC) defeated the Cardinal 13-3 in seven innings to take the opener of a three-game series from Sunken Diamond.
The visitors took control of the game right away on Friday night, scoring once in the first and five times in the second to jump out to a 6-0 lead.
The early cushion was plenty enough for starter Austin Turkington who dealt a complete game, allowing three runs on nine hits and one walk while striking out six to move to 4-2 on the season.
Cal catcher Alex Birge connected for a pair of home runs in the victory to lead the way, finishing 2-for-2 with three RBIs. Jarren Advincula also homered for the Golden Bears, which finished with 13 runs on 16 hits.
Freshman Rintaro Sasaki provided a small highlight for the Cardinal, finishing 3-for-4 with one run batted in.
The Golden Bears chased Stanford starter Matt Scott after just 1 2/3 innings, tagging the right-hander for six runs on seven hits. Scott dropped to 4-1 on the season with the loss.
Trailing 6-0 headed to the bottom of the third, the Cardinal offense managed to inch to within three at 6-3 with single runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings, but Cal broke through again with four in the sixth and three more in the seventh to earn the run-rule victory.
Sophomore Ben Reimers did well to keep the Cardinal in the game through the middle innings, tossing three scoreless frames as the first arm out of the bullpen.
Stanford will look to even the three-game series on Saturday when the two teams clash at 2:05 p.m. Sophomore left-hander Christian Lim will make the start for Stanford opposite right-hander Gavin Eddy for California.
GAME NOTES:
• The Cardinal had a string of 16 consecutive games with a home run end on Friday night … was held without an extra-base hit for the first time this year after collecting nine singles on Friday night
• The 13 runs and 16 hits allowed were both season highs for Stanford
• Charlie Bates (1-for-3) has hit safely in four straight games
• Temo Becerra (1-for-3, R) has hit safely in four straight games
• Trevor Haskins (0-for-4) had a four-game hitting streak snapped … was held hitless for just the third time this season
• Brandon Larson (2-for-4, R) managed his sixth multi-hit game of the season
• Tatum Marsh (1-for-3, R) has reached in 15 straight games
• Jimmy Nati (1-for-3, RBI) has hit safely in five straight games
• Rintaro Sasaki (3-for-4, RBI) has hit safely in four straight games … posted his team-best ninth multi-hit game while compiling his fourth career three-hit game