Four-Run Eighth Inning Keys Stanford's 10-6 Win Over Baseball

STANFORD, Calif. – Tim Tawa's RBI single broke a 6-all tie in the bottom of the eighth inning and Kody Huff added a three-run home run to lift Stanford to a 10-6 win over Santa Clara baseball to take the third straight game of the series against the Broncos on Saturday afternoon.

Before the four-run outburst by the Cardinal (3-0), Santa Clara had clawed back to tie the game up in the top of half of the eighth taking advantage of Stanford miscues.  Pinch-hitter Austin Reyes singled off Austin Weiermiller and Coleman Brigman was a hit by a pitch by new reliever Zach Grech.  The two runners advanced to second and third on a passed ball before Reyes scored on a wild pitch and Brigman on a throwing error by third baseman Brett Barrera.

In the home half of the eighth, Stanford got to Travis Howard who had retired six of seven batters up to that point including four on strikeouts.  Tawa drove home Adam Crampton who drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on Brett Barrera's sacrifice bunt.  Brock Jones drew a walk before Huff's home run to give Stanford a four run cushion.

Prior to the eighth, the teams exchanged runs in each of the half inning from the bottom of the first to the top of the fourth but with Stanford always maintaining the lead.

After the Broncos tied the game up at 1-all in the top of the second on Efrain Manzo's RBI single, the Cardinal answered with three runs on Tawa's RBI and Jones' two-run home run to take a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the inning.

Extra base hits by Michael O'Hara and Dawson Brigman in the top of the third got the Broncos within a run at 4-3 but Stanford once again answered with a couple of runs to push the lead back up to 6-3.

The middle of the Stanford lineup with Tawa, Jones and Huff drove in a combined seven runs.

O'Hara and Jake MacNichols each had a team-high two hits and drove in a run apiece.

Grech (1-0) was credited with the win while Howard (0-1) was saddled with the loss.