Logan James provided four innings of scoreless relief and Austin Barr hit a three-run home run to lead Stanford to a 7-3 nonconference baseball win against visiting University of San Diego on Monday afternoon. The Cardinal snapped a five-game losing streak in the process.
“It was a good win for us against a good opponent,” said Stanford head coach Mark Marquess. “We have been struggling lately. Logan James did a great job for us and we got two big hits — one by Beau Branton and the three-run homer by Barr — and that was really the difference in the game for us.”
Branton tied the game with a two-out, two-run single with the bases loaded in the second inning, after Stanford had stranded three runners in the opening frame. Barr’s blast broke the game open in the fifth inning.
Stanford (10-11) moved back within a game of .500 by scoring more than five runs for the first time in its last eight outings. The Cardinal was out-hit, 10-8, but drew seven walks and two hit batters. All seven Stanford runs were scored with two outs.
With Stanford leading 3-2, Barr sent a slider on a 0-1 count way over the left field wall off of losing pitcher Jonathan Teaney (0-2). The slider hung to Barr over the middle of the plate and he did not miss it.
“I’ve just tried to relax,” said Barr, who led Stanford with a .375 (3-8) average against Arizona over the weekend. “Simplify everything and not try to do too much. I’m not trying to hit home runs, I’m just trying to hit the ball hard and put together good at-bats and good things have been happening because of it.”
Tommy Edman had the most complete day at the plate and in the field for Stanford. The sophomore second baseman made a pair of nice plays in the field and went 3-4 with a double, a walk and two runs scored to help Stanford improve to 6-2 when scoring more than four runs.
James (2-1) allowed just two hits in relief and tied his career high with seven strikeouts to give Stanford time to come back from a 2-0 hole. Colton Hock started, allowing two runs on three hits over the first two innings.
The lefty James put four zeroes on San Diego’s scoreline in a season-high 60 pitches, 39 of which went for strikes. It was also a season high in innings for the junior, who could be a candidate for a spot in the starting rotation. James started eight games at the end of last season.
Joey Starling threw a career high 2.2 innings after James, nearly earning a three-inning save before being pulled with two outs in the ninth. Starling allowed one run, in the ninth, on four hits without issuing a free pass.
San Diego (13-9) smacked an RBI single off Chris Castellanos before the lefty got the final out of the ballgame. The Toreros were led by two-hit performances from Bryson Brigman, Austin Bailey and Kyle Holder.
Stanford has not lost when leading after the fifth inning (6-0) or when homering (4-0).
“This was a huge win for us,” Barr added. “Especially going down to play a good Arizona State team (this weekend). To get on the right track was good for our offense, good to see some guys get hits. We needed that.”
Men’s tennis
Stanford blanked Nevada, 7-0, Monday afternoon in nonconference play at Taube Family Tennis Stadium.
Returning to the court for the first time in 15 days due to its annual extended break for final exams, Stanford (7-4) wasted little time in dispatching of Nevada (5-7).
The match was the first of four contests to be played over a busy six-day stretch for Stanford.
After claiming the doubles point, David Hsu and David Wilczynski notched identical 6-3, 6-1 victories to put the Cardinal on the brink of clinching the match.
Robert Stineman made it official with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Robert Allan at the No. 5 spot.
Stanford visits Boise State on Wednesday for a 3 p.m. match.
Softball
Stanford fell to Oregon State in the series finale Monday in unusual fashion after the game was called due to inclement weather in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Playing through stormy conditions throughout the game, the Cardinal (14-17, 0-3 Pac-12) took a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the fifth inning. Oregon State ( 22-9, 3-3) rallied for four runs in the inning, capped by a two-RBI double by CJ Chirichigno, to take a 5-3 lead.
The game was called by the umpires immediately following the go-ahead hit.
Haley Snyder (8-9) had a strong outing in the circle, going 4.1 innings allowing four runs on four hits and four walks. Kylie Sorenson came in as relief and allowed one run on two hits.
Kayla Bonstrom and Tylyn Wells continued to swing hot bats, pacing Stanford with two hits apiece. Bonstrom has at least one hit in eight of the past 11 games and has accumulated 19 hits during that span. Wells has at least one hit in six of the past eight games.
By Stanford Athletics
By Stanford Athletics
By Stanford Athletics
Which San Diego? UCSanDiego? Cal State San Diego? University of San Diego?