Feb. 29, 2000
Stanford, Calif. - John Fagan blasted a fourth-inning grand slam to lead San Jose State (10-3) to a 4-1 upset victory over Stanford (11-5) in a non-conference game on Tuesday at Sunken Diamond. The Spartans were victorious despite just three hits and 14 stikeouts versus five different Cardinal pitchers. Fagan had two of those hits, finishing the day 2-for-4 with the home run and four RBI. Spartan starting pitcher Steve Murphy (1-0) picked up the victory as he scattered five hits and seven walks over the first 6.1 innings. He also struck out seven. Tim Adinolfi relieved Murphy in the seventh and gave up just one hit over the final 2.2 innings to earn his third save of the season.
"We haven't swung the bats that well all season," said Stanford head coach Mark Marquess following the game. "But you have to give them credit tonight. They got the big hit."
Fagan's big hit came off losing pitcher Dan Rich (0-2) with two outs in the top of the fourth inning. Rich had taken over for the Cardinal on the hill to open the fourth inning. He relieved Cardinal All-American Jason Young, who tossed three hitless innings in his first action since coming out of a game at Florida State on February 11 due to a shoulder. Rich immediately loaded the bases on a pair of walks and a base hit by Jamie Hiegel. Rich then stuck out a pair of hitters before Fagan lined a 1-0 pitch over the left field fence.
Stanford had many opportunities throughout the game as the Cardinal left 12 runners on base. Stanford left at least one runner on base in every inning but the eighth. The Cardinal had the bases loaded with two outs in the sixth before Murphy retired Craig Thompson on a fly ball to right field to end the threat.
The Cardinal scored its only run in the bottom of the first inning. Eric Bruntlett walked with one out and was moved to third on a double by Edmund Muth. John Gall drove in Bruntlett with a sacrifice fly one batter later.
Bruntlett (2-for-3, 2 walks) was on base in four of his five at bats for the Cardinal. Andy Topham (2-for-4) was the only other Cardinal with more than one hit.The loss snapped Stanford's four-game win streak.
Stanford will 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.).