STANFORD, Calif. (April 5, 2024) – Washington State took a two-run lead into the ninth inning but Stanford rallied with four runs and took the series-opener 5-3 with a walkoff three-run home run at Sunken Diamond Friday evening.
 
The Cougars (16-12, 6-7 Pac-12) received another impressive start from Grant Taylor who allowed just one run on three in hits six innings while Casen Taggart tied the game with an RBI-single in the sixth and gave WSU the lead with another RBI-single in the eighth. Joey Kramer followed Taggart with an RBI-single to push the lead to 3-1 but Stanford scored four runs in the ninth on a pair of singles, a hit-by-pitch, a run-scoring wild pitch and a three-run home run to right field.
 
Stanford improved to 12-15 overall and 5-5 in Pac-12 play.
 
KEY MOMENTS OF THE GAME
Taylor and Stanford ace Matt Scott traded zeroes the first three innings before Stanford used a leadoff hit-by-pitch, balk and a two-out RBI-single down the left field line score the game's first run.
 
In the fifth, Joey Kramer worked a walk and Trey Cruz was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second with one out but Stanford ended the threat with a flyout and strikeout. The Cougars threatened again in the sixth as Parke worked a walk, stole second and moved to third on a one-out fielding error put runners on the corners. Stanford recorded the second out with an infield popup but Taggart lined a two-strike RBI-single into centerfield for WSU's first hit of the game and tied the game at 1-1.
 
Taylor followed with a scoreless sixth inning, striking out two more Cardinal along the way. Stanford led off its seventh inning with a walk and WSU called upon Duke Brotherton from the bullpen who worked around a single and error with a strikeout and flyout to strand the two runners and kept things tied at one.
 
In the eighth, Parke worked a leadoff walk and one batter Jacob Morrow worked a walk. Stanford recorded the second out with a strikeout but Taggart lined a two-out RBI-single past a diving Cardinal third baseman and down the left field line to score the go-ahead run. Kramer followed with a two-out two-strike RBI-single the other way down the right field line to push the lead to 3-1. Brotherton followed with a scoreless bottom half of the inning, working around a one-out single with a flyout and fielder's choice groundout to shortstop.
 
In the ninth, Stanford started the inning with a high-bouncing infield single, a single through the right side and a sacrifice bunt to put runners on second and third with one out. One run came home before the Cardinal won it with a three-run home run to right field.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Crew Parke walked in the 6^th to extend his on-base streak to 7 games
Jack Weise recorded his 1^st career stolen base in the 9^th inning
Parke walked twice and scored twice
Jacob Morrow reached base four times, twice on errors, BB, HBP
 
NEXT UP
The series continues Saturday at 2:05 p.m.