April 25, 2000
Stanford, Calif. - #4 Stanford (32-10) won for the 11th time in its last 12 games with an 11-3 victory over Cal Poly (20-21) in a non-conference baseball game at Sunken Diamond on Tuesday. The Cardinal scored five times in the bottom of the third to break the game open. Senior third baseman John Gall tied a Pac-10 record for career hits as he collected #336 and #337 in a 2-for-5 (2B, RBI) performance, equaling the total put up by Arizona's Chip Hale. Gall also extended his career-high hitting streak to 16 games.
Mike Wodnicki, the third of seven Stanford pitchers, earned the victory to improve to 3-0 as he struck out three in 1.2 innings of scoreless relief. Cal Poly starter Joe Smith (5-3) suffered the loss, allowing six hits and six runs (two earned) in 2.1 innings.
Edmund Muth hit his team-leading 13th home run, a three-run shot down the right field line in the bottom of the eighth. Andy Topham (3-5, 2B, 3 RBI) paced the Cardinal offensive attack. A total of six Stanford players had multiple-hit games as Chris O'Riordan (2-4, RBI), Joe Borchard (2-5), Thompson (2-5) and Bruntlett (2-5) joined Topham and Gall with multiple-hit games. Muth finished with four RBI and Damien Alvarado had a pair of RBI without the benefit of a hit.
"Over the last 15 games, we've certainly been hitting the ball better," said Stanford head coach Mark Marquess about his team's recent hitting surge.
"This weekend's series versus California and the rest of our games should be very exciting," added Marquess.
Stanford's five-run third was highlighted by Gall's two-run double, as well as RBI singles from O'Riordan and Topham. Three of the team's five runs were unearned as the Cardinal took advantage of a pair of Mustang errors in the inning.
Stanford's first run in the second inning was also unearned, as was another run in the seventh. Cal Poly committed seven errors in the game, including three each by second baseman Brian Oxley and first baseman Steve Wood.
Cal Poly had jumped out to an early 3-1 lead prior to Stanford's five-run third, scoring once in the second and twice in the third. Tanner Trosper singled home the first Mustang run in the second. Keith Anderson had an RBI single in the third and Cal Poly scored another run on a balk.
Bryan Gant (2-5), Kevin Tillman (2-4, 2B) and Trosper (2-4, RBI) all had two-hit games for the Mustangs.
Stanford continues its five-game homestand with a three-game series versus California this Friday-Sunday (6 pm, 2 pm, 1 pm) before concluding the stretch by hosting USF on Monday, May 1 (6 pm).
Cardinal two-sport standout Joe Borchard is scheduled to compete in both the Spring Football Game and Stanford's baseball game versus California this Saturday. The Spring Football game runs from 12:15 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. Borchard is expected to play the first half of that game and then start the baseball game