April 3, 2011

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Box Score

PULLMAN, Wash. - Stanford's Dean McArdle pitched six and two-thirds strong innings and the No. 11 Cardinal defeated Washington State 4-3 in Pacific-10 Conference baseball, Sunday.

McArdle (4-0) gave up three unearned runs on four hits, walked three and struck out six. Chad Arnold (0-2) gave up one run in four and two-thirds innings for the Cougars (11-12, 1-5 Pac-10).

"We just haven't played consistent baseball yet," WSU Head Coach Donnie Marbut said. "We played much better today, but against a good team like Stanford, you cannot play from behind all weekend."

Stanford (13-7, 2-1 Pac-10), scored a run on four hits to end Arnold's day in the fifth. In the sixth, the Cardinal picked up a run on four hits and loaded the bases against Cougar reliever Anthony Drobnick. J.D. Leckenby then issued back-to-back walks with two outs to make the score 4-0.

In the bottom of the sixth, Cody Bartlett doubled with one out and took third when the ball was misplayed in the outfield. A ground out by Brett Jacobs scored Bartlett. Derek Jones reached on another error and scored on a double by Taylor Ard to cut lead to 4-2.

In the seventh, Patrick Claussen walked with two outs and scored on an error that allowed Paul Clingan to reach second. Scott Snodgress relieved McArdle and retired Bartlett on a ground out to end the inning.

Jones singled and moved to second on an error with one out in the eighth. Chris Reed entered from the Cardinal bullpen and walked Ard before inducing Stetson Olson to ground into an inning-ending double play. Reed set the Cougars down in order in the ninth for his fourth save.

Washington State takes a two-game road trip to Gonzaga (Tuesday at 6 p.m.) and to Seattle (Wednesday at 3 p.m.).