Stanford Shows How It’s Done

Stanford is the most experienced team in the College World Series, and that was evident Friday night in the Cardinal’s opener against first-time participant Louisiana Lafayette.

Senior Edmund Muth and junior Joe Borchard hit home runs, junior right-hander Jason Young pitched 7 1/3 innings and senior third baseman John Gall made several outstanding defensive plays as Stanford defeated the Ragin’ Cajuns, 6-4, before 23,830 at Rosenblatt Stadium.

Stanford (48-15), making its third World Series appearance in four years, will play Clemson (51-16), a 10-6 winner Friday over San Jose State, on Sunday. Louisiana Lafayette (47-19) and San Jose State (41-23), making their first series appearances, will play an elimination game Sunday.

Young gave up four runs, six hits and struck out nine.

Jeff Bruksch, a sophomore transfer from USC, struck out three in the final 1 2/3 innings for his 13th save, tying the school record set by Steve Chitren in 1987.

Louisiana Lafayette pitcher Justin Gabriel (9-4) gave up four runs and a season-high seven walks in 3 1/3 innings, his shortest outing of the season. Five Ragin’ Cajun pitchers combined for a season-high 10 walks.

Louisiana Lafayette scored all of its runs with homers.

Clemson 10, San Jose State 6--Clemson scored eight runs in the second inning and two in the third and made it stand up against the Spartans, who made four errors in their first World Series appearance.

San Jose State (41-23) took a 1-0 lead in the second inning, but Clemson center fielder Patrick Boyd keyed the Tigers’ second-inning outburst with a three-run home run to left field against Chris Key (13-4).