Stanford's Quinn Mathews delivered a Herculean effort on Sunday night, pitching a complete nine-inning game to secure an 8-3 victory over Texas and keep the Cardinal alive in the NCAA Baseball Tournament. Mathews threw an astounding 156 pitches, striking out 16 batters while allowing only one walk and three runs on eight hits. This remarkable performance marks the 15th time in 17 starts this season that Mathews has thrown over 100 pitches.
Texas outfielder Eric Kennedy is struck out by Stanford pitcher Quinn Mathews in Stanford, California on Sunday, June 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Josie Lepe)
Thanks to Mathews' dominant performance, Stanford now faces another elimination game against Texas on Monday night, with a coveted spot in the Men's College World Series hanging in the balance.
Stanford pitcher Quinn Mathews throws the first pitch against Texas during the NCAA tournament in Stanford, California, Sunday, June 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Josie Lepe)
The Cardinal offense provided ample run support for Mathews, starting in the second inning when Alberto Rios walked and subsequently scored on Temo Becerra's sacrifice fly. Drew Bowser then extended Stanford's lead with a two-run home run. Eddie Park, Tommy Troy, and Malcolm Moore also contributed RBIs to the winning effort.
Stanford, aiming for their third consecutive College World Series appearance, successfully navigated the Super Regional round in both 2021 and 2022, after failing to advance past that stage in 2019.
Quinn Mathews throws against Texas in Stanford, California, Sunday, June 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Josie Lepe)
Texas, meanwhile, has reached the College World Series three times in the past five seasons, missing the tournament entirely in 2019 and experiencing the cancellation of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
