Beck Twirls Gem, Cardinal Takes Opener

STANFORD, Calif. – Senior Brendan Beck dealt 6 1/3 scoreless innings while limiting UC Irvine to just two hits with eight strikeouts as the Cardinal (8-1) earned a 4-1 victory to open a four-game series with the Anteaters (5-5) on Friday from Sunken Diamond.

The victory was Stanford's fifth straight after sweeping a four-game series with San Francisco last week.

Beck worked around a career-high six walks in the outing to improve to 2-0 on the season, while the quality start was his second in three starts this year. The right-hander left the game with two on and one out in the seventh, handing the ball to left-hander Austin Weiermiller.

Weiermiller got out of that inning unscathed before allowing a single run in the eighth to end Stanford's shutout bid. The native of Milton, Ga. finished with 1 2/3 innings on the hill with one strikeout.

Fifth-year senior Zach Grech took over in the ninth and contributed a 1-2-3 frame to secure his fourth save of the year and the Cardinal victory.

Offensively, Stanford received home runs from Vincent Martinez and Nick Brueser. Martinez, who finished 2 for 4 with two runs scored, connected for his second of the year on the first pitch he saw in the second inning to put Stanford on the board.

Brueser made it 2-0 Stanford in the fourth as he lined an RBI-single into left field, and after Brock Jones singled home a run in the fifth, Brueser added his second home run of the year in the sixth to extend Stanford's lead to 4-0 after six.

Brueser finished the game 2 for 3 with the home run and two RBIs while hitting out of the seventh spot in the order.

With two more home runs on Friday afternoon, Stanford has now connected for 16 through nine games this season.

Stanford will continue the four-game series with UC Irvine on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 1:05 p.m. PT.