Feb. 25, 2001
Stanford, Calif. - Jeff Bruksch tossed his first collegiate shutout to lead #9 Stanford (11-4) to an 8-0 victory over Santa Clara (2-10) in a non-conference game on Sunday at Sunken Diamond. Bruksch, who ran his consecutive string of scoreless innings to 17.1, allowed just three hits and no walks while tying his career-high with nine strikeouts. Bruksch improved to 3-0 on the season and is part of Stanford's three-man starting pitching rotation that has combined for a 9-0 record and a 2.36 ERA through the Cardinal's first 15 games. Stanford has now won nine of its last 10 contests and picked up its 17th consecutive victory over the Broncos dating back to 1997. Jason Cooper (2-3, HR, 2 RBI) led the Cardinal offense as he belted his team-leading fifth home run, a two-run shot to right field to key a four-run third inning. Carlos Quentin (2-3, RBI) also had a pair of hits for Stanford.
"I'm real comfortable on the mound right now," said Bruksch following the victory. "I've kind of simplified the game in my last few starts. I just try to go out there each inning and throw a good inning. I am trying to narrow my focus to the task at hand - each pitch, each batter. This approach has helped me out a lot."
Bruksch had a perfect game going until a one-out double by Matt Queen in the top of the fifth inning. He also gave up leadoff doubles in the top of the sixth to Alex Anderson and the top of the seventh to Jack Headley but was able to work out of both jams. Bruksch retired the final nine batters he faced following Headley's double.
"Jeff Bruksch pitched very well today and had good command of everything," said Stanford head coach Mark Marquess. "He has done that his last couple of times out so it wasn't a surprise, but getting a complete-game shutout is tough to do."
"We have received a solid starting pitching effort from all of our starters in pretty much every game we've played this season," added Marquess. "Every game we've played, we've had a chance to win primarily because of this pitching staff and our defense. When you pitch well and play good defense, you've usually got a chance to win."
Stanford got on the scoreboard with a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the second inning, scoring the first run on an RBI single by Carlos Quentin to bring in Andy Topham. Quentin would score on a two-out error by Bronco first baseman Alex Anderson, his first of three miscues in the contest.
The Cardinal extended its lead to 6-0 with four runs in the bottom of the third inning. Jason VanMeetren drove in the first two runs on a two-RBI triple, the Cardinal's first three-base hit of the season. Cooper followed with his two-run homer.
Stanford added two additional unearned tallies without a hit in the bottom of the sixth inning, taking advantage of two more errors by Anderson. Chris O'Riordan and Arik VanZandt both were credited with RBI's during the frame.
John Redmond (1-2) suffered the loss for the Broncos, giving up eight hits and eight runs (four earned) over the first 5.1 innings.
O'Riordan did have his career-high 11-game hitting streak snapped, going 0-for-4 with an RBI.
Stanford and Santa Clara conclude their three-game series on Monday at Santa Clara (6:00 p.m.). The Cardinal will then begin an 11-game homestand by hosting Nevada on Tuesday (3:00 p.m.) and California in a three-game set this Friday-Sunday (6 pm, 1 pm, 1 pm).