In a thrilling conclusion to their three-game series, Cal's baseball team achieved a historic milestone by sweeping No. 14 Stanford with a dramatic 6-5 victory in 10 innings at Stanford's Sunken Diamond on March 23, 2025. This marked the first instance since 1992 that Cal managed to sweep Stanford in a series held at any location, further solidifying their triumph as the first-ever road sweep over the Cardinal.
Entering the series unranked, Cal (13-10, 5-4 ACC) defied odds against a Stanford team (15-6, 5-4 ACC) which held a spot in the top 15 according to both the D1 Baseball and USA Today Coaches polls. The Bears not only persevered through the pressure but also showcased their talent throughout the series, outscoring Stanford 26-7 across the first two games. They accomplished an impressive 13-3 run-rule victory on March 21 and followed up with a 13-4 win on March 22.
Sunday's game began with Cal taking the lead in the top of the first inning, thanks to Cade Campbell's home run to left field off Stanford's starting pitcher Joey Volchko, putting them ahead 1-0. However, Stanford quickly responded in the bottom of the second inning. Ethan Hott stepped up, hitting a two-RBI single that allowed Brandon Larson and Brady Reynolds to score, flipping the lead to 2-1 for the Cardinal.
The back-and-forth play continued into the fourth inning, where Stanford extended their lead to 4-1. Trevor Haskins’ single brought home Hott before Jimmy Nati’s fly out allowed Tatum Marsh to score. Despite this advantage, Cal remained undeterred and fought back, tying the game in the fifth inning at 4-4 through RBI singles from Carl Schmidt and Jarren Advincula, along with a third run resulting from a fielder’s choice.
In the sixth inning, the momentum shifted again as Advincula was hit by a pitch while the bases were loaded, granting Cal a 5-4 edge. Stanford wasn't done yet, though; in the bottom of the sixth, Brady Reynolds connected on an RBI single that brought Haskins home, tying the game back up at 5-5.
The contest remained tense with neither team scoring through the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings, pushing the game into extra frames. In the top of the tenth, Cal's redshirt freshman Ethan Kodama, who was only making his seventh plate appearance of the season, emerged as the unlikely hero. With two outs and runners on first and second, Kodama stepped up and knocked a sharp shot down the third-base line on a 1-2 pitch from Stanford's Trevor Moore, driving in PJ Moutzouridis for the go-ahead run.
Cal’s reliever Cole Tremain exhibited resilience, managing to retire the side after giving up a lead off single in the bottom of the tenth, securing the win and the historic sweep for the Golden Bears. Tremain earned the victory while Toran O’Harran was credited with the loss, falling to 1-1 after the tightly contested battle.
Jacob French emerged as a key player in the series, finishing with a remarkable 10-for-13 performance, including eight runs scored and four RBIs over the weekend. He achieved back-to-back four-hit games on Friday and Saturday, before finishing the series with a 2-for-5 game on Sunday.
Reflecting on the series, head coach Mike Neu of Cal expressed pride in his team's performance. "It’s huge for our program to do this against a rival like Stanford," he noted following the game. Stanford's head coach David Esquer, while disappointed, acknowledged Cal's strong performance, stating, "They played very inspired, very well, and they won that game. They took it from us."
Despite the disappointment, Stanford fans are hopeful for a quick turnaround as their team prepares to face San Jose State on March 24, 2025. The Cardinal's projected starting pitcher, Parker Warner, will take to the mound in a game scheduled to begin at 2:05 PM PT. Esquer commented on this quick scheduling, asserting that facing another game right away might provide the team with a chance to reset, saying, "I think it helps... We need to get back to playing free and easy."
This weekend's series has set a remarkable tone for Cal as they look to build momentum in the remainder of the season, while Stanford now seeks to regroup swiftly after a surprising series sweep. Only time will tell how both teams respond, but the excitement of collegiate baseball continues to inspire fans long after the final pitch.
