#6 Stanford Tops #2 Arkansas to Take Round Rock Classic

The #6 Stanford Cardinal (6-1) defeated #2 Arkansas Razorbacks (3-2) by a 5-to-0 score to claim the Karbach Round Rock Classic tournament championship.  It was the Cardinal’s third appearance in the Classic. 

Offensively the Cardinal were led by designated hitter Brett Barrera, who tallied 3 RBIs on 2 hits.  Barrera’s four-bagger in the second inning scored Carter Graham, giving Stanford all the runs necessary to topple Arkansas. 

Razorback starting pitcher Hagen Smith found more trouble in the third inning, allowing back-to-back singles to Eddie Park and Tommy Troy, and then hitting Kody Huff to load the bases.  A walk to Graham extended Stanford’s lead to 3-to-0.

Smith (L, 1-1) exited the game with the walk and was ultimately assigned the loss, allowing 3 runs in 2.1 innings while facing 14 batters. 

The Cardinal added to their margin in the fifth inning, starting with Brock Jones’ single to right field.  Jones advanced to second on Huff’s infield grounder that was mishandled by Arkansas, giving Huff first base.  Jones stole third and scored on Barrera’s single to left center. 

Stanford’s final run came in the ninth inning as Jones scored on a wild pitch thrown by Miller Pleiman. Jones reach base on a walk, stole second, and advanced to third on Huff’s single. 

Stanford starting pitcher Quinn Mathews (W, 1-1) earned the win, scattering 2 hits over 6 scoreless innings, while striking out 10 batters.  Relief pitcher Tommy O’Rourke and Braden Montgomery assisting in completing the shutout against Arkansas.