Stanford hits 4 home runs in 12-3 win over the Hornets
STANFORD, Calif. (AP) — Brandon Wulff hit a two-run homer in the top of the first, setting the tone for Stanford’s 12-3 victory over Sacramento State in an elimination game at the Stanford Regional on Sunday.
Will Matthiessen, Kyle Stowers and Nick Bellafronto also homered for the top-seeded Cardinal (43-12), who meet No. 3 seed Fresno State later in the day with a chance to force an if necessary game on Monday.
Matt Smith hit a two-run homer in the seventh for the Hornets (40-25), who lost their first elimination game in eight tries this season, six coming in the WAC tournament. Trevor Doyle also drove in a run.
Freshman Alex Williams (8-1) threw his first complete game, allowing three runs on six hits. He walked two and struck out a season-high eight. He retired nine of 10 over one stretch.
Hornets’ freshman starter Evan Gibbons (1-3) faced nine batters and was replaced by Brady Rodriguez. Sacramento State, which won eight of nine entering the weekend, used six pitchers.
Bellafronto’s three-run homer to center field highlighted a seven-run seventh, putting the game out of reach. The Cardinal sent 12 batters to the plate in the inning.
Stowers, Wulff and Matthiessen each drove in two runs for the Cardinal, who have been eliminated from its own regional the past two years.
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