May 20, 2000
Stanford, Calif. - #2 Stanford (41-13, 16-7) kept its Pac-10 titles hopes alive with a 19-3 win over UCLA (35-23, 17-6 Pac-10) on Saturday at Sunken Diamond. The Cardinal moved to within 1.0 games of the first place Bruins heading into tomorrow's regular season finale (1 pm). Stanford will be attempting to win its fourth straight Pac-10 title for the first time in school history. A victory on Sunday would give the Cardinal a share of the title with the Bruins and possibly Arizona State, which must win both of its remaining games at Arizona (Saturday, 7 pm, Sunday 1 pm) to earn a share of the championship. Stanford has captured 17 conference titles in the history of the school. UCLA wrapped up a share of its first Pac-10 title since 1986 with Friday night's 10-9 win at Stanford, while Arizona State last won a Pac-10 Southern Division championship in 1993.
"It's a pride factor," said Stanford head coach Mark Marquess about winning the Pac-10 championship. "You play all year to win the Pac-10, and it is a big deal. Next weekend, when we are into the NCAA Tournament, it probably won't be that important but tomorrow it is very important."
"It would be great to win Pac-10 titles for four straight years, especially for this group of seniors," said John Gall, one of six Cardinal seniors to be honored in a pre-game ceremony tomorrow prior to their final regular season home game at Stanford. "This would obviously be a great to go out and the regular season and give us a great deal of momentum heading into the NCAA Tournament."
Stanford jumped out to a 14-1 lead in today's contest, scoring seven runs in each of the first two innings. The Cardinal hit around in both innings and chased losing pitcher Rob Henkel (6-3) before he could record an out in the second inning. Henkel gave up nine runs (eight earned), seven hits and four walks in 1.0 plus innings.
Edmund Muth's team-leading 17th home run, a three-run shot in the bottom of the first inning, started the onslaught and erased a short-lived 1-0 UCLA lead after the Bruins' Forrest Johnson singled home Matt Pearl in the top of the first. The home run was the 46th of Muth's career as he moved into a second place tie with Josh Hochgesang (1996-99) on Stanford's all-time home run list. Joe Borchard followed Muth's blast with a two-run homer, his 15th of the year, to stake Stanford to a 5-1 lead before UCLA even recorded an out. Stanford closed out its scoring in the inning on an RBI single by Damien Alvarado and a sacrifice fly by Craig Thompson.
Gall started the scoring in the second inning with an RBI-double, the 76th of his career which set a new Pac-10 record for career doubles. Chris O'Riordan was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Borchard scored on a wild pitch to give Stanford a 10-1 advantage. Arik VanZandt then extended his career-high hitting streak to 11 games with an RBI single to put the Cardinal ahead 11-1. Stanford closed out its scoring in the inning on an RBI single by Thompson and a two-RBI double by Eric Bruntlett.
All-American Justin Wayne (12-3) became the second pitcher in the Pac-10 to reach the 12-win mark this season as he cruised through the first six innings, giving up only one run and four hits. Wayne also recorded eight strikeouts and moved past Jack McDowell (1985-87) into second place on Stanford's career strikeout list with 338.
Gall (3-4, 2B, HR, 3 RBI), O'Riordan (3-4, HR, 3 RBI) and Andy Topham (3-5) had three hits each to lead Stanford's 19-hit attack. Borchard (2-3, HR, 2 RBI) and Bruntlett (2-3, 2B, 2 RBI) added two hits each.
Pearl (2-5, 2B) was the only Bruin with more than one hit.
Stanford has now won 20 of its last 24 games overall and 10 of its last 12 versus the Bruins.Stanford's Brian Sager (4-1, 4.95) is scheduled to start tomorrow's finale for the Cardinal, while UCLA is expected to pitch either Bobby Roe (6-4, 5.27) or Ryan Carter (2-1, 5.26). Six Stanford seniors will be honored in a pre-game ceremony prior to their final regular season home contest for the Cardinal.