Slideshow Tristan Beck wet seven strong innings in Friday's win over USC. Photo by Bob Drebin/isiphotos.com. Previous Next

Tristan Beck pitched seven stellar innings and Stanford started Pac-12 play with a 5-1 win over USC on Friday night at Sunken Diamond.

"Beck looked really sharp tonight, from start to finish," said Clarke and Elizabeth Nelson Director of Baseball David Esquer. "I thought Maverick Handley was outstanding behind the dish, also coming up with a pair of big hits. Those are the kind of tack-on runs we'll need in the Pac-12, especially how this one ended."

The Cardinal (15-2 overall, 1-0 Pac-12) took a 5-1 lead into the ninth inning with sophomore Jack Little having completed one perfect inning. After loading the bases with one out, Little induced a game-ending double play for Stanford's perfect start to Pac-12 play.

Beck struck out nine over seven innings, scattering five hits and one walk while earning his third win of the season. Little finished the job, going 2.0 innings with two strikeouts, two hits and one walk.

Handley led Stanford at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two two-out RBI. Brandon Wulff was 2-for-4 with two runs – Wulff has reached base safely in all 17 contests in 2018. Beau Branton, Jesse Kuet and Kyle Stowers added one RBI apiece, with Nico Hoerner, Branton and Nick Brueser turning the game-ending double play.