Stanford Baseball Crushes Louisville in Series Opener

Cardinal offense erupts for 12 runs in dominant victory

Apr. 11, 2026 at 10:55am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a college baseball game, with overlapping planes of red, white, and blue representing the dynamic action on the field.Stanford's offensive explosion against Louisville showcases the dynamic energy of college baseball.Louisville Today

Stanford baseball defeated Louisville 12-2 on Friday night to take the first game of their three-game series. Rintaro Sasaki hit a grand slam in the 9th inning to cap off the victory, while Brady Reynolds and JJ Moran also had big offensive performances for the Cardinal.

Why it matters

This was an important win for Stanford as they look to build momentum in ACC play. The Cardinal have struggled to find a reliable Friday night starter, so this by-committee pitching approach seems to be working so far. The offensive outburst is also a positive sign for a Stanford team that has been inconsistent at the plate this season.

The details

Stanford fell behind 2-0 early, but broke the game open with a 5-run 3rd inning, highlighted by a 3-run homer from Brady Reynolds. The Cardinal added 3 more runs in the 5th to make it 8-2, then Sasaki's grand slam in the 9th provided the final margin. On the mound, 6 different Stanford pitchers combined to hold Louisville to just 2 runs.

  • The game was played on Friday, April 10, 2026.
  • Stanford and Louisville are currently 5-8 in ACC play.

The players

Rintaro Sasaki

Stanford outfielder who hit a grand slam in the 9th inning to cap the victory.

Brady Reynolds

Stanford infielder who hit a 3-run homer in the 3rd inning to give the Cardinal the lead.

Colt Peterson

Stanford relief pitcher who earned the win on the mound.

Wyatt Danilowicz

Louisville pitcher who took the loss.

Zion Rose

Louisville player who drove in the team's first run with an RBI single.

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What they’re saying

“Rintaro's grand slam was a huge momentum boost for us. He's really starting to find his groove at the plate.”

— Colt Peterson, Stanford relief pitcher

What’s next

Stanford and Louisville will continue their series on Saturday with a game starting at 11:00 AM PT.

The takeaway

This was a dominant performance by Stanford, as their offense came alive and their pitching staff held Louisville in check. If the Cardinal can build on this win, they could be poised to make a run in ACC play.