Feb. 27, 2000
Berkeley, Calif. - Second-ranked Stanford (11-4) completed a three-game sweep of California (5-10) with an 8-2 win over the Golden Bears in a non-conference game on Sunday at Evans Diamond. Cardinal pitchers Tim Cunningham and Jeff Bruksch combined for a five-hitter, while John Gall (2-for-4, 3 RBI) led four Stanford hitters with two hits each. The Cardinal wins for the fifth time in its last six games, while California loses for the 10th time in its last 12 efforts.
Stanford led just 4-2 in today's game before exploding for four runs in the top of the sixth inning while sending 10 hitters to the plate in the frame. Ryan Garko picked up the first RBI of his collegiate career to score Damien Alvarado with the first run of the inning. Andy Topham would then single to score Billy Jacobson with the next run. The Cardinal also scored runs on a bases loaded walk to Eric Bruntlett before Gall was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded for the final tally.
The effectiveness of the Stanford pitching staff was the main story today and the entire weekend, limiting California to just five runs and 10 hits in three games. Cunningham worked the first six innings of Sunday's victory, allowing four hits and two runs to earn the first victory of his collegiate career. Bruksch allowed just one hit and struck out five in three scoreless innings of relief, picking up his third save of the season and his second of the series.
"We had a bunch of good pitching performances and played excellent defense the entire series," said Stanford head coach Mark Marquess following the contest. "It was nice to get a sweep. California is a good, solid team. I expect them to be in the running for a Pac-10 title this season."
The Cardinal offense had its best showing of the series on Sunday as Alvarado (2-for-3), Jacobson (2-for-5, 2B) and Topham (2-for-5, RBI) joined Gall with two hits each. The Cardinal finished with 11 hits, including a mammoth solo home run by Joe Borchard in the top of the fourth.
"We really have begun to swing the bats a lot better in the last week," said Gall.California jumped out to a 1-0 lead with a run in the bottom of the first inning, the only time the Golden Bears led in the entire series. National Preseason Player of the Year Xavier Nady, who finished the series 0-for-9, walked after two were out and scored on an RBI-double by Mike Tonis.
The Cardinal tied the score with a run in the top of the second on an RBI-single by Alvarado.Stanford took the lead for good with a pair of runs in the top of the third on a two-out, two-RBI single by Gall.
California closed the gap to 3-2 with a run in the bottom of the third when Cunningham balked with the bases loaded to allow Rob Meyer to cross the plate.Stanford would increase its lead to 4-2 on Borchard's solo home run in the fourth before its four-run sixth inning.
Jon Shirley (0-3) took the loss for the Golden Bears as the Cardinal touched the California starter for seven runs and nine hits in 5.1 innings.
Stanford will next host San Jose State on Tuesday (6:00 p.m.). The Cardinal will also host Keio (Japan) in an exhibition game on Wednesday before playing Santa Clara in a three-game series beginning at Sunken Diamond on Friday (6:00 p.m.).