No. 16 Cardinal Walks Off with Opener in Thirteen

STANFORD, Calif. – Sophomore Brock Jones delivered the game-winning hit in the bottom of the 13th inning as No. 9 Stanford (25-9, 11-5 Pac-12) walked off with a 5-4 victory over No. 9 Arizona (31-12, 15-7 Pac-12) on Friday night from Sunken Diamond.

Jones came to the plate with runners at second and third and only one out, delivering a single into right field over a drawn in infield to plate Adam Crampton. Crampton and Eddie Park had each reached safely in the 13th via a walk.

Right-hander Quinn Flanagan was saddled with the loss after allowing the run in the final frame, falling to 0-3 on the season. Flanagan, the sixth pitcher used by the Wildcats, tossed the final four innings for Arizona.

Freshman Brandt Pancer was credited with the victory after throwing a scoreless top of the 13th and stranding the go-ahead run at third base. Pancer struck out a pair and improved to 5-2 on the season. The right-hander was the seventh pitcher used by Stanford in the victory, as the bullpen combined to log 6 2/3 scoreless innings while allowing just two hits to the Pac-12's top offensive team.

Senior Brendan Beck got the start and pitched well, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits and three walks with eight strikeouts. Beck allowed a single run in the first inning, but contributed five straight scoreless frames before being charged with three runs in the seventh. The right-hander threw a career high 126 pitches.

Jacob Palisch, Joey Dixon, Zach Grech, Drew Dowd, Tommy O'Rourke and Pancer all appeared in relief, with O'Rourke tossing three scoreless innings and striking out four from the 10th through the 12th.

Senior Christian Robinson led the way offensively for the Cardinal, going 4 for 6 with two doubles and a run scored out of the cleanup spot in the order. Robinson's double to lead off the sixth helped pave the way for a two-run inning as Stanford took a 3-1 lead through six frames. Drew Bowser, who finished 2 for 6, drove in Robinson with a double of his own before the final run came in on a wild pitch.

Arizona reclaimed the advantage at 4-3 with three runs in the seventh, but Stanford responded with a run in the eighth as a two-out ground ball trickled under the glove of Kobe Kato at second base to allow Grant Burton to score from second and knot the tally at 4-4.

The victory snapped a 10-game winning streak for Arizona. Stanford will look to secure its 10th series win of the season on Saturday when the two teams meet at 2:05 p.m.