April 7, 2000
Pullman, Wash. - #7 Stanford (23-9, 4-3 Pac-10) scored seven runs in the fifth inning on its way to a 14-3 victory over Washington State (14-20, 2-5 Pac-10) in a Pac-10 baseball game on Friday at Bailey-Brayton Field. Junior righthander Justin Wayne picked up the victory on the mound for the Cardinal, improving to 8-1 this season and 24-2 all-time at Stanford. Wayne continues to maintain the best winning percentage ever by a Cardinal pitcher. Wayne scattered seven hitters and struck out 10 in 8.0 innings, marking the fifth time he has recorded double figure strikeouts this season.
"I actually didn't have a great fastball today," said Wayne. "However, I knew that I could get these guys out on off speed pitches and that's what I was able to do."
"Justin Wayne was phenomenal but that doesn't surprise me because he's pitched that way all year," said Stanford head coach Mark Marquess. "It was nice to give him a little bit of run support today."
John Gall led the Cardinal offensive attack with a 3-for-5 (2B, RBI) performance. Gall continues a hot streak as he is now 14-for-24 with five homers and 13 RBI over his last six games. Joe Borchard hit his seventh home run of the season, a solo shot in the top of the second inning.
"We had some big hits with people on base today and the seven runs in the fifth inning was obviously a big factor," continued Marquess. "I hope we can continue to swing the bats as well as we have been lately."
Stanford had led just 4-3 before erupting for seven runs in the fifth inning. The Cardinal sent 13 batters to the plate in the inning and took advantage of four walks, a hit batsmen and a Cougar error. Andy Topham had a two-RBI single in the inning, while Gall and Chris O'Riordan each had RBI-doubles. Craig Thompson picked up Stanford's other RBI with a sacrifice fly.
Stanford had jumped out to a 4-0 lead after three innings on Borchard's solo homer in the second and a three-run third that was highlighted by Eric Bruntlett's two-run double and an RBI-single by Edmund Muth.
Washington State cut the Cardinal advantage to 4-3 with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Jason Grove put the Cougars on the scoreboard with an RBI-single before a two-out, two-RBI double by Ryan Smith.
However, Washington State would not score again as Wayne retired 13 of the last 15 batters he faced before giving way to J.D. Willcox, who pitched a scoreless ninth inning.O'Riordan (2-2, 2B, RBI) was the only player for either team besides Gall with more than one hit.
Stanford's Jason Cooper had a pinch-hit three-run double to account for three more Stanford runs in the eighth inning.
"It was a good feeling and nice to have a big hit in front of my family and in my home state," said Cooper, who prepped at nearby Moses Lake High School.
Washington State starter Todd Meldahl suffered the loss, giving up 11 runs (eight earned) andeight hits in 4.1 innings. Meldahl also walked six Cardinal batters as the WSU staff gave up a total of 11 bases on balls.
Stanford and Washington State continue the three-game set with games on Saturday and Sunday, both scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.