Feb. 26, 2000
Berkeley, Calif. - Stanford pitchers Brian Sager and Mike Gosling combined for a one-hitter to lead #2 Stanford to a 4-1 win over California in a non-conference game at Evans Diamond. Sager had a no-hitter going until Cal's Tommy Callen doubled down the left field line with no outs in the top of the seventh for the Golden Bears' only hit of the game. Gosling, who relieved Sager after the Stanford starter hit Xavier Nady and Mike Tonis to load the bases with no outs in the seventh, pitched three hitless innings to record his second save. Stanford improves to 10-4 with its fourth win in the last five games. California loses for the ninth time in its last 11 contests, falling to 5-9 on the season.
"It was a solid hit," said Sager about Callen's double. "It wasn't cheap. He earned it. He did exactly what he was supposed to do with that pitch."
"I felt comfortable on the mound today and concentrated on my tempo," continued Sager. "My goal was to have the same approach on every pitch. I was able to get ahead in the count a lot and make good pitches when I was ahead."
Sager actually was perfect through 4.2 innings as he retired 14 batters in a row to lead off the game before walking Sam Petke with two outs in the fifth. Sager finished with four strikeouts and had just the one walk to improve to 2-1.
Gosling recorded his second save of the week with a sterling three-inning relief performance. He held the Golden Bears hitless and struck out four, while walking just one.
"We had a good pitching job today from both Gosling and Sager," commented Stanford head coach Mark Marquess. "If you only give up one hit, you should win. We've had pretty good pitching and defense all season combined with a bit of timely hitting. That is the way we have one most of our games."
The Cardinal scored all the runs it would need with three-runs in the top of the fourth inning as both Eric Bruntlett and Damien Alvarado hit solo home runs. Edmund Muth also singled and eventually came around to score on a wild pitch in the inning.
Stanford added another run in the top of the sixth when John Gall singled and scored on an RBI-double by Joe Borchard after two were out.
California scored its lone run on a sacrifice fly by Petke in the bottom of the seventh to score Callen. The Golden Bears did send the tying run to the plate twice in the bottom of the ninth after a Gosling error and a walk by the Stanford reliever placed runners on first and second base with just one out. However, Gosling struck out pinch hitter Clint Hoover before Petke flied out to right field to end the game.
Gall (2-for-4, 2B) was the only player for either team with multiple hits in a game that lasted just 2:11.
California's Brad Steele (2-3) was tagged with the loss, allowing seven hits and four runs in 7.0 innings.
Stanford and California complete their three-game non-conference series on Sunday (1:00 p.m.). Stanford will be attempting to sweep the Golden Bears for the first time since the Cardinal won all six games between the clubs in 1997.