Feb. 6, 2000
Stanford, Calif. - Top-ranked Stanford completed a three-game sweep over #2 Cal State Fullerton with a 7-3 victory over the Titans at Sunken Diamond on Sunday. The Cardinal once again received a strong performance from its starting pitcher as Brian Sager (1-0) shut out the Titans and allowed just two hits over the first 6.0 innings to earn the victory. The Cardinal jumped out to a 5-0 lead after the first five innings as Edmund Muth's two-run homer in the third inning was Stanford's biggest offensive highlight early in the contest.
Sager's performance keyed the victory as the sophomore right-hander allowed only singles in the third and sixth innings, while striking out four and walking one. He retired the first eight batters he faced. Sager, who was making his first start of the season, was removed from the contest after six complete innings.
"You want to go out and throw your game," said Sager. "As far as coming out of the game, sure I would have liked to have stayed in. However, you have to take your hat off to our coaching staff. They have our future in mind as well. It was tough to come out, but it was the best thing this early in the season."
"This was a great game and a great series," said Stanford head coach Mark Marquess after picking up his 950th career victory. "We had another great pitching performance and played excellent defense."
Stanford struck first in today's contest when Joe Borchard scored on an errant throw by Titan right fielder Steve Woodard as he was attempting to throw Borchard out at third following John Gall's single to right field.
After Muth's third-inning homer upped the Cardinal lead to 3-0, Stanford scored single runs in the fourth and fifth frames to increase the lead to 5-0. Gall scored on an RBI-groundout by pinch-hitter Joe Savig in the fourth before Muth's sacrifice fly plated Craig Thompson in the fifth.
The Cardinal held its 5-0 lead until the Titans rallied for three runs in the top of the eighth off Stanford freshmen relievers Ryan Gloger and Ryan McCally. Pinch-hitter Brett Kay had the first of his two hits in the final two innings to lead off the eighth. Gloger was relieved by McCally and promptly greeted with back-to-back singles by Mike Martinez and Woodward to load the bases with none out. Chris Stringfellow's sacrifice fly off Ryan Bruksch put the Titans on the board before Cal State Fullerton cut the lead to 5-2 on an RBI-double by Robert Guzman. David Bacani's RBI-groundout brought home the final Titan run before Bruksch retired cleanup hitter Aaron Rifkin on a groundball to end the rally.
Stanford came back with two insurance runs of its own in the bottom of the eighth. Thompson was credited with an RBI when he drew a bases loaded walk to score Gall. Damien Alvarado scored moments later on a wild pitch by Titan reliever Kirk Saarloos.
Cal State Fullerton had two runners on with just one out in the top of the ninth before Alvarado picked Shawn Norris off second base to record the second out. Bruksch struck out pinch-hitter Craig Patterson to close out the game and was credited with his first save of the season.
Titan starter Ronnie Corona (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing six hits and five runs in 6.0 innings.
Gall (2-for-3, 3B) and Muth (HR, 3 RBI) led the offensive attack for Stanford, while Kay (2-for-2) and Woodward (2-for-3) paced the Titans.
The Cardinal hosts Nevada on Monday (3:00 p.m.) before traveling for a much-anticipated series to #7 Florida State next Friday-Sunday. The Cardinal was knocked out of the 1999 College World Series by the Seminoles.