Jan. 27, 2001
Fresno, Calif. - Josh Labandeira's RBI-double with one out in the bottom of the tenth inning scored Tom Creighton with the winning run to lift Fresno State (1-1) to a dramatic 3-2 victory over #14 Stanford (1-2) in an NCAA baseball game at Beiden Field.
Creighton had reached first base after walking off losing pitcher Ryan McCally (0-1). Francisco Nieves (1-0) picked up the victory in his first collegiate appearance after holding the Cardinal scoreless with only one hit over the final 3.0 innings.
The victory evened the three-game series following Stanford's 11-9 win in the opener on Friday night. The two teams will play the rubber game on Sunday (Noon).
Stanford opened the scoring of Saturday's game when Scott Dragicevich scored on Brian Hall's RBI-fielders choice in the top of the fourth inning. Fresno State immediately answered with a run in the bottom of the fourth when Brad Harper scored on an RBI-ground out by Labandeira.
The game remained tied 1-1 until both teams scored a single run in the sixth to make the score 2-2. Ryan Garko had an RBI-single for the Cardinal to score Andy Topham, who had led off the frame with a single. Fresno State answered when pinch-hitter Casey McGehee came around to score on an RBI-ground out by Jeff Prieto after leading off the frame with a single.
Neither team would score until the bottom of the tenth as Nieves and McCally took turns setting down opposing hitters. McCally retired the first 12 batters he faced after entering the game with one out in the sixth before walking Creighton and allowing Labandeira's game-winning double. Nieves retired nine of the 10 Stanford hitters he faced.
Bulldog starter Zach Minor was effective (7.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO) in receiving a no decision. Stanford starter Jeremy Guthrie scattered four hits and one run in 4.0 innings.
Labandeira (2-5, 2B, 2 RBI) was the only Bulldog with more than one hit, while Dragicevich (3-4, 2B) and Jason Cooper (2-3, 2B) had multiple-hit games for the Cardinal.
The Cardinal has now lost both extra inning games it has played this year, also dropping a 6-5 season-opener at Cal Poly in 12 innings on January 21.