Feb. 18, 2000
Stanford, Calif. - Junior right-handed pitcher Justin Wayne struck out a season-high 12 batters in a complete game three-hit performance to give third-ranked Stanford (7-3) an 8-2 victory over #12 Texas (8-3) in a non-conference game on Friday at Sunken Diamond. Wayne's complete game was the first by a member of the Cardinal staff this season and his 12 strikeouts were the highest by any Stanford pitcher in 2000. Craig Thompson led the offensive attack with the first four-hit game of his career, going 4-for-4 with a homer and three runs scored. The Cardinal leadoff hitter homered to lead off the bottom of the first inning, the second time he has homered to lead off the Stanford half of the first inning for the second time in the last three games.
"It was a solid pitching performance by Justin Wayne," said Stanford head coach Mark Marquess following the game. "This was a well-played game by both teams and a good solid win for us."Wayne's victory improved his all-time record at Stanford to 19-1, the best winning percentage in Cardinal history. He is 3-0 this season with a 1.93 ERA.
"It's not something I really think about," said Wayne regarding his career record. "I just go out and try to do my job. I'm glad I gave our team a chance to win tonight."
The Cardinal, which had lost three-of-four games last week and dropped from #1 to #3 in the national polls as a result, jumped on the Longhorns early with a pair of runs in the first inning. Thompson led off the bottom of the first with his homer off losing pitcher Beau Hale (1-1), who had tossed a no-hitter in his most recent performance versus Sam Houston State last Friday. The next three Stanford hitters - Eric Bruntlett, Edmund Muth and John Gall - all singled. Gall's single brought home Bruntlett to make the score 2-0.
Texas answered back in the top of the second with its only two runs of the evening on a two-run homer by Jeff Ontiveros to tie the score at 2-2.
The Cardinal came right back with four runs of its own in the bottom of the second on a sacrifice fly by Bruntlett and a three-run blast by Muth to give Stanford a 6-2 lead. Stanford scored its final two runs of the evening on an RBI-single by Bruntlett and a sacrifice fly from Gall in the fourth inning.
Wayne continued to roll along as he retired 23 of the final 27 batters he faced without allowing a hit after the fifth inning.
Muth (2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI), Bruntlett (2-for-4, 2 RBI) and Ryan Garko (2-for-4) joined Thompson to lead the Cardinal attack.
The loss snapped a six-game win streak for the Longhorns.
Stanford and Texas continue their three-game series with single games on Saturday and Sunday, both beginning at 1:00 p.m.