Fresh off its third consecutive series win, Stanford (19-11, 7-5 Pac-12) heads back on the road Tuesday to take on Pacific (9-21, 2-7 Big West) in the first of two matchups between the squads in 2013.
Stanford swept 2012’s two-game series with the Tigers, but Pacific fought hard to protect its home turf. The Cardinal needed 11 innings to dispatch the Tigers, 9-7, in only the fourth game of the season for both teams. In the second matchup, this time at Sunken Diamond, Stanford coasted to an 8-3 victory.
Pacific comes into the contest on a four-game losing skid. The Tigers were swept by UC-Riverside in a three-game conference series over the weekend, falling to 2-15 on the road. But with a 6-5 home record, Pacific could put a scare in the Cardinal once again.
Junior first baseman Erik Lockwood and sophomore center fielder Tyler Sullivan lead Pacific at the plate with averages of .336 and .327, respectively.
The Tigers have been solid at the plate throughout the season, averaging 4.2 runs per game. But the pitching has been a struggle; Pacific’s team ERA sits at 5.66, higher than all but one member of Stanford’s entire pitching staff.
Fielding has also been an issue for Pacific. The Tigers have given up over one unearned run per game through their first 30 contests.
First pitch Tuesday in Stockton, Calif., is scheduled for 6 p.m.