Stanford Baseball Upsets No. 24 Arizona

Cardinal win 10-7 in College Baseball series opener

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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On Friday, the Stanford baseball team upset No. 24 Arizona by a final score of 10-7 in the College Baseball series in Surprise, Arizona. Sophomore righty Cohen Gomez was the winning pitcher for the Cardinal in a relief role, while freshman lefty Mike Erspamer earned the save. Stanford catcher Luke Lavin and 1st baseman Rintaro Sasaki each hit a home run for the Cardinal.

Why it matters

This is a big win for Stanford, as Arizona was in the College World Series last season and is a ranked team. The Cardinal's bats came alive, and their bullpen was able to close out the game, which is something they can build confidence from going forward.

The details

Stanford jumped out to an early 2-1 lead, but Arizona tied it up 2-2 in the 3rd inning. The Cardinal then scored 3 runs in the 4th to take a 5-2 lead, but the Wildcats answered with 3 runs of their own to tie it at 5-5. In the 6th inning, Stanford exploded for 5 runs to take a 10-5 lead. Arizona hit back-to-back solo home runs in the 6th to make it 10-7, but the Cardinal bullpen was able to hold on for the win.

  • The game was played on Friday, February 13, 2026.
  • Stanford and Arizona will play again on Saturday, February 14, 2026 at 5:00 PM PT.

The players

Cohen Gomez

Sophomore right-handed pitcher who was the winning pitcher for Stanford.

Mike Erspamer

Freshman left-handed pitcher who earned the save for Stanford.

Luke Lavin

Stanford catcher who hit a home run.

Rintaro Sasaki

Stanford first baseman who hit a home run.

Nolan Straniero

Arizona senior right-handed pitcher who was the losing pitcher.

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What they’re saying

“This is a huge win. Arizona was in the College World Series last season and is a ranked team. While their pitching was a bit shaky, the bats came alive and the pitching in the end was able to close the door.”

— Ben Parker, Writer (on3.com)

What’s next

Stanford will play Michigan on Saturday, February 14, 2026 at 5:00 PM PT as part of this opening showcase in Surprise, Arizona.

The takeaway

Stanford's upset win over the ranked Arizona Wildcats shows the Cardinal's potential this season, as they were able to overcome an early deficit and get strong performances from their bullpen to secure the victory.