Stanford eliminates Cal State Fullerton from NCAA baseball tournament – ​​Orange County Register

STANFORD, Calif. — Temo Becerra hit a two-run home run in the top of the sixth inning to lift top-seeded Stanford past Cal State Fullerton, 6-5, in a playoff game at the Stanford Regional on Sunday.

Fullerton, who stayed alive with a 9-5 win over San Jose State in a playoff game on Saturday, finished the season with a 33-23 record.

Stanford qualified for a rematch with Texas A&M later Sunday. The Cardinal lost to the Aggies 8-5 in a winners’ game Saturday night and now must beat Texas A&M twice to earn a spot in the Super Regionals. The Aggies are one win away from advancing.

Maddox Latta scored a home run in the first and Cole Urman hit a solo home run in the second to give Cal State Fullerton a 2-0 lead, but Tommy Troy put the Cardinal ahead with a homer of three points in the third. The Titans took the lead in the fourth when Nate Nankil doubled to deep right center field to tackle Jack Haley. After Becerra put Stanford in the lead for the last time, Drew Dowd and Ryan Bruno pitched the last three scoreless innings to preserve the win.

Nick Dugan (1-0) allowed a run in 3 ⅔ innings of relief and took the win. Bruno made his ninth save.

Trevor Hinkel (1-5) allowed three runs on four hits and three walks in 3⅔ innings of relief and suffered the loss.