Offense Erupts in Sunday Sweep
STANFORD, Calif. – Senior Vincent Martinez connected for two home runs, including a tie-breaking grand slam in the fourth inning, as Stanford (17-10, 9-6 Pac-12) scored a season-best 16 runs on a season-high 22 hits to defeat Arizona State (14-19, 5-7 Pac-12) 16-10 and earn a series sweep on Sunday from Sunken Diamond.
Martinez, who homered in all three games against Arizona State, finished the game 2 for 4 with two runs scored, a walk and six RBIs – his final two coming on a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh. The six RBIs are the most in a game for Martinez in his career, while Sunday served as his first multi-homer game and ran his season home run total to five.
Freshman Braden Montgomery also homered in all three games of the series, launching a two-run shot in the bottom of the fifth. The home run was Montgomery's seventh of the year and came as part of a 2 for 5 afternoon.
Martinez finished the weekend 5 for 11 (.455) with four runs scored, four homers and nine RBIs, while Montgomery batted .462 (6 for 13) with four runs scored, a double, three homers and nine driven in.
Junior Brock Jones connected for the first of Stanford's four homers on Sunday, lacing a pitch to right field to lead off the home half of the first inning. The round tripper was the third of Jones' season and came as part of a 3 for 6 day that included three runs scored, two doubles and one RBI.
Brett Barrera (3 for 5) and Kody Huff (3 for 3) each finished with three hits and a double, while Carter Graham batted 4 for 5 with three runs scored and two RBIs to finish the weekend against ASU hitting .500 (6 for 12) with six runs scored, a double, a homer and seven RBIs.
The Cardinal offense managed nine extra-base hits (five doubles and four home runs) as the two teams combined for 15 extra-base hits in the contest.
Junior Quinn Mathews earned the victory for Stanford after tossing five innings and allowing two runs on five hits with three strikeouts out of the bullpen. The left-hander, the fourth of six pitchers used by the Cardinal, improved to 5-1 on the year.
ASU reliever Chase Webster was charged with the loss after allowing five runs on six hits and two walks with three strikeouts, dropping to 1-3 on the season.
Every Cardinal starter had at least one hit, and all but one finished with multiple hits. The 16 runs on 22 hits are the most for the Cardinal since scoring 18 times on 22 hits at Washington State on April 1, 2021.
Despite the lopsided finish, Stanford had to play from behind on Sunday, allowing three runs in the first and two more in the second. The Cardinal managed two in each of the first two frames, and eventually scored five in the fourth – highlighted by Martinez' grand slam – to take a lead it would not relinquish.
Stanford has now won eight of its last nine Pac-12 games, having swept Washington State and Arizona State while taking two-of-three at Oregon State.
The Cardinal will return to non-conference play on Tuesday when it hosts San Francisco at 6:05 p.m.