Cardinal Drops Opener

STANFORD, Calif. – Sophomore Drew Bowser went 3 for 4 with a double and his first home run of the season, but No. 6 Stanford (6-3) suffered a 9-3 setback to CSUN (6-2) to open a three-game series from Sunken Diamond on Friday.

Bowser's solo shot was part of three consecutive home runs from the Cardinal in the bottom of the fourth. Kody Huff connected for his second of the season before Bowser and Carter Graham followed suit. Graham's round-tripper to cap the trio was his team-best third of the year.

Sophomore Tommy Troy also posted a multi-hit game, going 2 for 5 with a double while hitting second in the lineup.

CSUN got to Cardinal ace Alex Williams on Friday afternoon, scoring lone runs in the first and second before a three-run homer from Gabe Gonzalez put the Matadors up 5-0 through three.

Gonzalez, who ran his homer total to three, would finish the game 2 for 4 with five RBIs.

Williams lasted four innings for the Cardinal, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits and one walk with four strikeouts. The loss dropped the right-hander to 2-1 on the year.

Matador starter Blaine Traxel was impressive against the Cardinal, limiting the Stanford offense to three runs on the solo homers while striking out seven. Traxel moved to 2-1 with the victory.

Stanford had not hit three straight home runs since at least the 2001 season.

The Cardinal will look to even the series on Saturday when the two teams meet at 2:05 p.m.