Feb. 23, 2001
Santa Clara, Calif. - #9 Stanford (10-4) won for the eighth time in its last nine games with a 7-3 victory over Santa Clara (2-9) on Friday at Buck Shaw Stadium. The win marked the 16th consecutive game the Cardinal has defeated the Broncos dating back to 1997. Jeremy Guthrie (3-0) won his third consecutive start, scattering five hits and three runs (two earned) while striking out a season-high-tying eight batters. Mike Wodnicki pitched hitless baseball over the final 2.0 innings to earn his second save of the season.
Arik VanZandt led the Cardinal's 12-hit attack by going 3-for-5 with a double, home run and two RBI. Chris O'Riordan (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI), Andy Topham (2-4, SB), Scott Dragicevich (2-5, 2B) and Jason Cooper (2-5, 2B) had two hits each. O'Riordan extended his career-high hitting streak to 11 games.
"We had a good solid effort today," said Stanford head coach Mark Marquess. "It was a nice combination of pitching and timely hitting."
The Cardinal began the scoring in the top of the first inning on a solo home run by VanZandt, his first long ball of the 2001 season.
Stanford extended its lead to 4-0 with three runs in the top of the second inning. O'Riordan's two-out, two-RBI double capped off the Cardinal rally. Brian Hall also had an RBI fielders choice in the inning.
Stanford retained its 4-0 lead until the Broncos scored three times in the bottom of the sixth inning. Joey Gomes had a key two-out RBI double in the inning, while Matt Queen contributed a sacrifice fly. The Broncos also took advantage of two walks, a hit batsmen and a Cardinal error in the inning.
The Cardinal added single insurance runs in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings. O'Riordan led off the seventh inning with an infield single and moved to second base when Bronco third baseman Pat Peavey threw the ball away at first base. O'Riordan eventually scored on an RBI single by VanZandt. Andy Topham singled, stole second base and eventually scored on another Santa Clara error in the eighth inning. Pinch-runner Tobin Swope scored the Cardinal's final run on a wild pitch in the ninth inning.
Stanford and Santa Clara continue their three-game series with games on Saturday (at Stanford) and Sunday (at Santa Clara). Both games are scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.
STANFORD130000111--7122 SANTA CLARA000003000--353
BATTERIES: Stanford Guthrie, Wodnicki (8) and Garko, Tirpack (8). Santa Clara Travis, DeMartini (8) and Hayes. WIN Guthrie (3-0), LOSS Travis (0-4), SAVE Wodnicki (2). HR'S: Stanford VanZandt (1st, solo in 1st). T 3:03, A 397. Updated Records: Stanford (10-4), Santa Clara (2-9).