Cardinal Holds off Cal Poly

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – No. 7 Stanford (21-11) used a six-run second inning to jump out to an early 9-1 lead headed into the bottom of the fifth inning before eventually holding on to beat Cal Poly (22-14) 10-8 on Tuesday night from Baggett Stadium.

The Mustangs got on the board first, plating a run on a wild pitch in the first inning, before Stanford scored six runs on four hits in the second. Run-scoring doubles from Drew Bowser and Adam Crampton highlighted the inning, with Crampton's serving as a bases-clearing two-bagger with the bases loaded.

Bowser's double came as part of a 3 for 5 day with two runs scored. Freshman Braden Montgomery also collected three hits, finishing 3 for 5 while hitting out of the cleanup spot in the order.

A Tommy Troy double and a sacrifice fly from Eddie Park extended the lead to 8-1 in the third before Troy launched his first homer of the year in the fifth to push the advantage to 9-1.

Troy, who started in right field, finished the game 2 for 3 with two runs scored and two RBIs, helping to guide Stanford to 15 hits in the victory.

Trailing 9-1 headed to the bottom of the fifth, Cal Poly began to gain offensive momentum, scoring four runs in the inning to cut the deficit to 9-5. A two-RBI triple from Brett Borgogno and a two-run homer from Cal transfer John Lagattuta provided the spark in the fifth.

The two teams would trade a run in the seventh to bring the tally to 10-6, but the Mustangs once again pushed forward, loading the bases with nobody out in the eighth before eventually plating a pair of runs on RBI-ground balls.

Unable to secure any insurance runs in the top of the ninth, Stanford sent sophomore Ryan Bruno to the mound to work the bottom of the inning. The left-hander struck out the side on 12 pitches to record his first career save.

Cody Jensen, who took over with two outs in the first inning from Montgomery, was credited with the victory after tossing 2 1/3 scoreless frames while allowing three hits and a walk with three strikeouts. Jensen moved to 1-0 with the decision.

Including Montgomery, Jensen and Bruno, the Cardinal used seven pitchers to navigate the nine innings.

Stanford will remain on the road in non-conference play this week, traveling to San Diego to play a pair of games apiece against San Diego State and Grand Canyon.