LUBBOCK, Texas — Brendan Beck set a career high with 13 strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings, Christian Robinson had 4 RBI, and Stanford beat Texas Tech 15-3 on Friday in the NCAA Lubbock Super Regional to begin a best-of-three series.
Stanford (37-15) is seeking its first appearance in the College World Series since 2008. Texas Tech (39-16) needs to win the next two games to go to its fifth CWS in the last seven completed seasons.
The winner of the super regional in Lubbock will play Arkansas or North Carolina State at the College World Series.
Beck, who entered with a 1.69 ERA over his last four outings spanning 32 innings, allowed just 2 runs on 6 hits.
Tim Tawa, named the most outstanding player of the Stanford Regional last week, homered in the first to start a four-run inning, and Nick Brueser made it 5-1 in the sixth with his 11th homer of the season.
Kody Huff hit his second double of the game in the seventh with the bases loaded, scoring two for an 8-2 lead. Robinson added 2 RBI on a single in the five-run inning.
Robinson's two-run double in the eighth followed Brock Jones' RBI double as Stanford added three runs.
Texas Tech starter Chase Hampton allowed four runs in 3 2/3 innings. Cole Stilwell was 2 for 4, including his eighth homer of the season, and Nate Rombach hit his fourth homer in the last eight games.