PALO ALTO, Calif. (Interstat) — The Stanford Cardinal erupted for eight runs in a chaotic second inning Monday, erasing an early six-run deficit to power past the Utah Valley Wolverines 15-6 at Klein Field at Sunken Diamond.

The offensive outburst, which featured two home runs and capitalized on multiple Utah Valley miscues, secured a series sweep for Stanford after three previous high-scoring victories over the weekend. The Cardinal improved to 11-12, while the Wolverines fell to 9-13.

The game’s decisive turning point came in the bottom of the second inning, completely flipping the script after Utah Valley had built a commanding early lead. The Wolverines struck quickly against Stanford starter Tatum Marsh, plating two runs in the first inning on an RBI double by Garrett Strong and a run-scoring single by Nate Beck.

Stanford’s offense, however, responded with force in the second. After Jimmy Nati walked, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch, Eric Jeon launched a two-run homer to deep left field to cut the deficit to 6-2. The inning continued to unravel for Utah Valley starter Devin Holt and reliever Jaden Rice. A single, a walk and a run-scoring single by Braden Sasaki made it 6-3 before Rice entered with the bases loaded.

Rice struggled with control, unleashing a wild pitch that scored a run and then a passed ball that allowed another to cross, narrowing the gap to 6-5. After a walk reloaded the bases, Nati stepped to the plate for the second time in the inning and delivered the crushing blow: a three-run homer to left-center field, his sixth of the season, to give Stanford a sudden 8-6 lead it would not relinquish.

The eight-run inning transformed the game, shifting momentum entirely to the home side. The Cardinal added to their lead in the third on a two-run homer by Teddy Tokheim and a solo shot by Malcolm Bates, extending the advantage to 11-6.

Utah Valley chipped back with two runs in the fourth on an RBI single by Hunter Katschke and a run-scoring double by Kaden Carpenter, making it 11-8, but Stanford immediately answered in the bottom half. Tatum Marsh drove in a run with an infield single before Cort MacDonald, in his first at-bat after entering as a defensive replacement, hit a two-run homer to right field to push the lead to 14-8.

Nati added another RBI in the fifth with a ground-rule double, finishing his day 2-for-3 with a home run, four RBIs and two runs scored. Carpenter was a bright spot for Utah Valley, going 3-for-4 with a home run, a double and two RBIs. Pinch-hitter Brody Block also had a strong performance for the Wolverines, finishing 3-for-3 with two doubles.

Stanford’s bullpen, after Marsh and reliever Tommaso Steeves were chased early, stabilized the game. Six Cardinal relievers combined to allow just two runs over the final 7 1/3 innings, with Trevor Moore striking out two in a perfect eighth inning.

The game began in the afternoon and concluded in the evening. The result defied the Interstat game simulator, which had projected a 6-4 Utah Valley victory, though Stanford’s ELO rating gave it a 75% probability to win.

Stanford next travels to face Virginia Tech for a three-game series starting Friday. Utah Valley returns to action next Tuesday at home against Utah.