Cardinal Falls in Game One

TUCSON, Ariz. – Opening a three-game Pac-12 series at No. 21 Arizona on Friday night, Stanford (20-23, 11-11 Pac-12) dropped a 12-8 decision to the Wildcats (27-17, 15-7 Pac-12) from Hi Corbett Field.

While Stanford never led in the contest, each offense seemingly answered the other in turn, with the Cardinal drawing even at 5-5 by way of a three-run top of the fifth only to have Arizona respond with four in the bottom of the inning. Stanford would once again punch back with three in the top of the sixth to make it a one-run game at 9-8, but Arizona scored twice in the sixth and one more in the eighth to secure the victory.

Sophomore Brandon Larson had his best game as a Cardinal on Friday night, finishing 4-for-5 with two RBIs – including a game-tying two-RBI double to cap the fifth inning.

Owen Cobb and Ethan Hott each batted 2-for-5 with a run scored, a double and an RBI hitting out of the top two spots in the order. Cort MacDonald also registered a pair of hits and scored twice, while Malcolm Moore went 1-for-3 with two walks and three runs scored.

Sophomore Matt Scott got the start and took the loss for Stanford, falling to 4-7 after allowing eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits with seven strikeouts over 4 1/3 innings.

The Cardinal used a quartet of relievers on Friday, with each charged with one run. Freshman Ben Reimers finished the game on the hill, tossing the final 2 1/3 innings.

Arizona got on the board first in the first inning before Stanford drew even at a run apiece on a sacrifice fly from Trevor Haskins. The Wildcats reclaimed the lead at 3-1 after two, and held a 5-2 cushion headed to the fourth.

Stanford will look to even the series on Saturday when the two teams meet at 6 p.m.

GAME NOTES:

• Stanford has lost 17 of the last 29 overall … is 0-2 against Arizona this season.
• Arizona finished the game with seven extra-base hits, including two doubles from Garen Caulfield, two doubles from Maddox Mihalakis, a double from Andrew Cain, and triples from Brendan Summerhill and TJ Adams.
• Temo Becerra (1-for-5, R) has hit safely in 15 of his last 22 games and 21 of his last 20 overall.
• Owen Cobb (2-for-5, R, 2B, RBI) has hit safely in 10 straight and 17 of his last 21 overall, managing multiple hits in 13 of those 21 contests – including each of his last four.
• Cort MacDonald (2-for-5, 2 R, RBI) has hit safely in 10 of his last 11, 18 of his last 20, and 24 of his last 27, and has reached in all but four of his games played this year … has amassed a team-best 18 multi-hit games, including multiple hits in seven of his last nine.
• Jimmy Nati (1-for-3, 2B, RBI) has hit safely in all but 10 games this season, including seven straight and 14 of his last 16 overall, and has reached in all but eight.
• Kyler Heyne earned the victory and improved to 3-0 on the season.