Cardinal set to meet Fullerton once more
The last time Stanford faced Cal State Fullerton, the Titans took two of three from the Cardinal to open the season. On Friday, the two will meet again in the Stanford Regional at Sunken Diamond.
Each team rolled in its opener Thursday, with the Cardinal routing Sacramento State 10-0 and the Titans (35-21) dusting BYU 13-2.
“They’re a lot different now than they were opening weekend,” Cal State Fullerton head coach Rick Vanderhook said of Stanford. “They’re really pitching lights-out.”
Just two days before the opener against the Titans, sophomore lefty Kris Bubic was named Stanford’s No. 1 starter in Mark Marquess’ final season. Bubic replaced preseason All-American Tristan Beck, who has missed the season because of a back injury.
Bubic had only six collegiate starts to his name. He lost 1-0.
Bubic (7-6, 2.79 ERA) gave an All-Americacaliber performance against the Hornets (32-28). He tied a career high with 11 strikeouts in a career-longest eight innings, throwing 113 pitches (83 strikes) without issuing a walk.
“One of the best outings we’ve seen against us all year long,” Sacramento State head coach Reggie Christiansen said. “His fastball command was good, and that changeup is pretty special.”
Stanford has won each of Bubic’s past seven starts.
The Cardinal (41-14) scored in all but one inning, banging out 13 hits and a season-high four home runs. Two of those came from junior left fielder Quinn Brodey, who went 4-for-4.
With two outs in the first, he singled and scored on Dan Bakst’s double for the game’s first run.
Jack Klein homered in the second, and Brodey went deep in the third.
Brodey’s second homer capped a four-run seventh that sealed the game.
The Cardinal had scored 46 of 305 total runs this season in the seventh inning, and stayed true to form Thursday.
With one out and two men on, a wild pitch by Ty Fox prompted a throw down to second from catcher Raul Ortiz. That throw went through the hands of second baseman P.J. Floyd, bringing home Maverick Handley. On the next pitch, first baseman Matt Winaker swatted a two-run homer, his ninth of the season.
With two outs, Brodey unloaded for his 10th home run of the season.
“That’s one thing that’s made us really successful — we don’t quit; we’re going to fight until the very end,” Brodey said. “That seventh inning, it makes sense.”
Stanford has won 22 of its past 24 games, with Bubic going 5-0 during that stretch with a 1.98 ERA.
“I just try to put up as many zeros as I can,” Bubic said.