Junior Quinn Brodey's heroics lifted Stanford's win streak to nine.
STANFORD, Calif. – For the second time in just over a year, junior Quinn Brodey delivered a go-ahead, inside-the-park home run to lift Stanford to victory.
On Tuesday night, Brodey’s repeat heroics helped No. 13 Stanford to a 4-3 win over San Jose State at Sunken Diamond.
Incredible. @quinnbrodey2 did it again.
— Stanford Baseball (@StanfordBSB) May 3, 2017
Another 2-out, 2-run inside-the-park HR to give the lead #GoStanford https://t.co/p2DqlO7Kfv
Fittingly, in the 41st and final season for head coach Mark Marquess, Stanford (28-12) won its ninth straight to clinch the 39th winning season under No. 9’s reign. The nine-game win streak is currently the longest in the nation.
Brodey came up with two out and the tying run on third in the seventh inning. He worked a 2-1 count and then launched one to deep center field. It smacked the 400-foot marker on the wall in dead center and bounced back toward the infield. Brodey circled the bases as the Spartans outfield scrambled to retrieve the ball. The relay home was just ahead of Brodey, but catcher Johnny Mendoza couldn’t corral a tough hop and Brodey slid in safely with the go-ahead run.
“I had flashbacks to last year when I was rounding third,” Brodey said. “It was a similar situation. Once I saw the ball kick off the wall, I went into full gear. Our third-base coach (Jon Karcich) likes to be aggressive so I was ready. We made eye contact and I just ran as fast as I could.”
Brodey also pulled off the two-out, two-run, go-ahead inside-the-park home run at Arizona last season. On April 17, Stanford trailed 5-4 in the ninth when the Los Angeles, California, native bounced one of the wall in right center and circled the bases to propel the Cardinal to a 6-5 victory.
Friendly reminder. Brodey has mastered the clutch go-ahead inside-the-park #GoStanford https://t.co/JTYGq3CWbU
— Stanford Baseball (@StanfordBSB) May 3, 2017
San Jose State (15-27-1) led most of the way until Brodey’s round-tripper. Though it was freshman Daniel Bakst who opened the scoring in the first. He tattooed a long single off the wall in left to score Matt Winaker, who walked to start the game.
The Spartans tied the game in the second with a two-out bloop single to left, and took the lead with one run on two singles, a walk and hit by pitch in the third.
The Spartans increased their lead to 3-1 with an unearned run in the fifth.
Stanford cut the deficit in half in the sixth. Duke Kinamon led off with a single, and scampered all the way to third on an errant pickoff attempt. He scored on an RBI groundout from Mikey Diekroeger.
The Spartans made four errors, but the most costly set up Brodey’s game-winner. Freshman Maverick Handley led off that inning with a ground ball to second, but it was bobbled and Handley beat the throw to first. The Stanford catcher eventually scored the game-tying run with two outs.
Stanford relievers Tyler Thorne and Colton Hock recorded the last six outs without allowing a hit or walk. The duo has helped Stanford to a 23-0 record when leading after seven innings this season.
