May 2, 2001
West Sacramento, Calif. -- Sacramento State (20-29) scored seven times in the bottom of the sixth inning on the way to a 12-3 upset victory over No. 7 Stanford (35-13) in a non-conference game Wednesday at Raley Field. Sacramento State snapped an eight-game losing streak to Stanford, beating the Cardinal for the first time since May 8, 1995, and handed the Cardinal its most lopsided loss of the season. Aurelio Jackson (3-3, 2B, RBI, SB, 2 BB, HP) reached base in all six of his plate appearances, extending his streak of reaching base to 14 consecutive plate appearances over the past three games. Tim Maghan (3-4, 2 2B, 3 RBI) and Mario Celillo (3-5, 2B, RBI) added three hits each for the Hornets, while Joe Evans (2-4, 2B, RBI) had a pair of hits. Sacramento State starter Jeffery Groeger (5-7) earned the victory in a complete game performance, scattering eight hits and three runs. Jeremy Guthrie (8-4) suffered the loss, allowing five runs and six hits in 4.0 innings.
Stanford's Jonny Ash (2-3) was the only Cardinal with more than one hit, while Carlos Quentin had a double and two RBI.
Sacramento State sent 12 batters to the plate in the sixth inning, collecting six hits and taking advantage of two Stanford errors. All seven of the runs were unearned, although the final three runs were team unearned runs that were charged to Cardinal reliever J.D. Willcox. Jackson led off the frame with a bunt single and stole second base before scoring on the first of two errors in the inning by Cardinal third baseman Andy Topham. Evans drove in the second run with an RBI double to chase Jeff Bruksch. Celillo greeted Willcox with an RBI single and Maghan followed with an RBI double. After the first of two intentional walks issued by Willcox, Tito Barba drove home a pair of runs with a double down the left field line. Bobby Ciani brought home the Hornets final run of the inning with an RBI single before the inning finally ended when Carlos Morales lined into a double play.
Stanford scored the first run of the game, picking up an unearned run in the top of the second inning. Jason Cooper was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and Ash followed with a single to left field. Cooper and Ash both moved up a base when Hornet leftfielder Chris Kinsey misplayed Ash's single. Scott Dragicevich then singled home Cooper.
Sacramento State tied the score with a run in the bottom of the second inning. Celillo started the rally with a one-out double and eventually scored on an RBI single by Jackson. The rally ended when Stanford centerfielder Sam Fuld threw out Maghan trying to score from second base on Jackson's single.
The Hornets scored two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 3-1 lead. Maghan's two-RBI double scored Evans and Celillo, who had walked and singled to lead off the inning.
Stanford tied the score at 3-3 with a pair of unearned runs in the top of the fifth inning on a two-out, two-RBI double by Quentin. Ryan Garko had reached first base on a two-out error by Maghan at first base and moved to third base on a double by Cooper down the first base line.Sacramento State regained the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth inning on a two-out, two-RBI single by Kinsey. The Hornets had loaded the bases with no outs on a base hit by Morales, a walk to Daryl Grant and a bunt single by Evans. Bruksch, who came on after losing pitcher Jeremy Guthrie walked Grant, struck out Celillo and Meghan before Kinsey's hit.Stanford left 12 runners on base, while the Hornets stranded 11.
Stanford, currently 1.0 game behind USC in the Pac-10 standings with six conference games remaining for both teams, will be off from Pac-10 action this weekend. The Cardinal return to action by hosting Cal Poly in a non-conference game at Sunken Diamond next Tuesday, May 8 (6:00 pm).