Cal Poly Edges Baseball 7-6 in Fall Exhibition

{ "articleTitle": "Stanford Baseball Falls 7-6 to Cal Poly in Fall Exhibition", "articleDescription": "Stanford baseball surrendered a seventh-inning home run to drop a 7-6 decision against Cal Poly on Saturday, November 3, 2026. The loss marks the penultimate fall ball matchup for the Cardinal before their final exhibition game.", "articleBody": "

Cardinal Drop Seventh-Inning Lead in Exhibition Loss

\n\nStanford baseball fell 7-6 to Cal Poly in a fall exhibition game on Saturday, November 3, 2026. The Cardinal held a slim lead late in the contest before surrendering a three-run home run in the seventh and final inning.\n\nThe loss drops Stanford’s record to 0-0 in both overall play and ACC standings as they continue their fall preparation. Cal Poly entered the game with an 0-0 record in Big West conference play.\n\nStanford’s offense generated runs through sustained rallies rather than power hitting. The Cardinal scored three runs in both the fourth and fifth innings despite lacking home run power during the exhibition.\n\nSophomore infielder Teddy Tokheim led the Stanford batting effort with three hits. Freshman infielder Alika Ahu contributed two hits and a walk for the Cardinal.\n\nTokheim’s performance continued his strong start following his collegiate debut last spring. During that season, he led the team in batting average, slugging percentage, and on-base plus slugging (OPS). He earned a third-team All-American selection after hitting 17 home runs in 2026, finishing one shy of the all-time Cardinal freshman record.\n\n

Pitching Performances and Roster Usage

\n\nThe pitching staff utilized varied innings across multiple arms during the exhibition. Sophomore left-handed pitcher Mike Erspamer pitched two innings of one-run ball, recording one strikeout and issuing no walks.\n\nFreshman pitcher Graham Schlicht also pitched two scoreless innings, striking out two batters. Schlicht previously established a California state record by pitching 62 innings without allowing a run.\n\nSophomore left-handed pitcher Brock Ketelsen pitched two innings for Stanford. During his appearance, Ketelsen reached base on a single and an error.\n\nThe game featured notable deviations from regular-season protocols, including varied pitching usage and changes to the batting order. Cal Poly utilized just eight players in their lineup for most of the game, with one batter appearing twice in a row.\n\nStanford’s Nolan Stoll hit multiple times in a row at one point during the contest.\n\n

Team Context and Upcoming Schedule

\n\nThe matchup provided a contrast in recent team trajectories. Cal Poly was ranked No. 19 at the end of the previous season and is seeking to improve upon their defeat in the super regional finals from that year.\n\nStanford finished 12th in the ACC last spring. The Cardinal were eliminated by Miami in the second round of the ACC tournament.\n\nThe