Woodside, Calif. - Newly #5 Stanford Club Baseball squared off against #4 Santa Clara in a single game to cap off the season series between the two squads. Stanford came in at 16-1 in-conference, while the Broncos entered play 15-2. Due to tiebreaking rules, a Santa Clara victory would net them the conference, so the entire NCBA Pacific North rested on the day's seven short frames.
Unfortunately for Stanford, that was exactly what happened. The Broncos jumped out to a big early lead and never were in serious danger of relinquishing it, as they won 10-2 to secure both the NCBA Pacific North championship and their spot at regional playoffs. Santa Clara welcomed sophomore RHP Joseph Seddon quite rudely with a solo blast to right field on the third pitch of the game. In the bottom half, the Cardinal battled back with Caden Denning and Danny Gass singles to start off the inning. What ensued was a play that had many spectators, players, and coaches baffled. Third-baseman Donnie Raymond, coming off NCBA National Player of the Week honors, doubled off the wall in right. Leadoff man Caden Denning was gunned down at the plate. However, Gass, who was closely trailing, somehow avoided the tag to score Stanford's first run and knot the game at one.
In the second, Santa Clara broke the game open with four runs on three hits. The lead seemed only to grow as the game went on, save an RBI Gass double in the bottom of the fifth to take the score to 9-2. The final: 10-2, Santa Clara. The Broncos plated ten runs on ten hits, while the Card only scored two on seven hits. Gass and Raymond both had multiple hits in the contest - Gass went 2-3 with a double, run batted in, and run scored. Raymond also went 2-3 with two doubles while driving in one.
With regional playoffs impending, Gregory Block and Will Ogden Director of Baseball Evan Schieber went with the "bullpen day" pitching strategy. Seddon was saddled with the loss, taking his record to 6-2. The Nevada native went two innings while surrendering five runs. Angel Villeraldo Amador pitched two innings of three-run ball in relief, before yielding to Miles Gumbs, who gave up a run in the fifth. Danny Gass finished the game on the mound for the Card. His line: 2 IP, 1 H, R, 0 ER, BB, 3 K.
The loss takes Stanford to 17-4 (16-2), while Santa Clara finishes at 18-3 (16-2). With the superior head-to-head record, the Broncos end the season atop the Pacific North.
The Cardinal have enjoyed their best regular season run since the legendary '21-'22 team, of which only Denning, Raymond, and (coach) Schieber remain. They scored 201 runs in 21 games and only allowed 83. Their 17 wins are t-most in program history. The team batted .411 on the campaign, along with a .516 OBP and .532 SLG.
In light of all of this, as well as their #5 ranking in the national poll and tight play against conference champion Santa Clara, Stanford has been awarded the At-Large Bid to the regional playoffs in Palm Springs, CA. The tournament will be in a four-team, double-elimination format with the winner advancing to the NCBA DII World Series in Alton, IL. The four teams participating in this stacked regional tournament will be (#1) GCU, (#4) Santa Clara, Southern Utah, and (#5) Stanford, in order of seeding. More information can be found at the following link: https://div2.clubbaseball.org/regionals/
The bid represents the third time the Card have qualified for regionals in the past five years. They will open their postseason against #1 nationally-seeded Grand Canyon University, looking to spoil the 'Lopes' perfect 15-0 (12-0) season. First pitch will be at 6:00 PM on Friday, May 1, at Palm Springs Stadium.
