Jan. 28, 2001
Fresno, Calif. - Chris O'Riordan led off the game with a home run in the top of the first inning and #14 Stanford (2-2) never trailed as the Cardinal defeated Fresno State (1-2) by a final score of 9-5 to win the deciding game of a three-game series on Sunday at Beiden Field. Jason VanMeetren led the Cardinal offensive attack, going 4-for-5 with a home run and two RBI, while O'Riordan was 3-for-5 with a double and his leadoff homer. Tim Cunningham (1-0) carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning and earned the victory, allowing three runs and two hits in 5.1 innings of work. John Hudgins pitched the final 3.1 innings for his second save of the year.
"We got great pitching performances from Tim Cunningham and John Hudgins, as well as a couple of timely hits," said Stanford head coach Mark Marquess, winner of his 997th collegiate game.
Stanford jumped out to a 6-0 lead after the first five innings. The Cardinal followed O'Riordan's first inning home run with single runs in the second and third innings before a three-run fifth inning gave the Cardinal a 6-0 advantage. Carlos Quentin singled home VanMeetren in the second. Stanford made it 3-0 when Jason Cooper scored all the way from first base after a throwing error by Bulldog pitcher Nick Moran. Scott Dragicevich keyed a three-run fifth inning with a two-RBI double to right centerfield. Brian Hall also had an RBI-single in the inning.
Fresno State scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth on a pinch-hit two-RBI double by Oscar Lopez and an RBI-ground out from Casey McGehee. After Stanford increased its lead to 7-3 on a sacrifice fly by pinch-hitter Jonny Ash in the top of the seventh, the Bulldogs cut the margin to 7-5 on a two-run homer by Brandon Gemoll in the bottom of the eight. Gemoll had three home runs in the series.
The Cardinal added two insurance runs in the top of the ninth inning on a two-run homer by VanMeetren.
Moran (0-1) took the loss for Fresno State, allowing seven hits and six runs (five earned) in 4.0 innings.
Stanford will next be in action when the Cardinal travels to Cal State Fullerton for a three-game series February 2-4.