April 5, 2002
Tucson, Ariz. - Chris Carter raced home from third base on a passed ball with two outs in the top of the 18th inning as No. 2 Stanford (21-6, 1-0 Pac-10) outlasted Arizona (21-13, 2-5 Pac-10) by a final score of 5-4 in an 18-inning marathon that lasted 5:19 to open its Pac-10 season at Frank Sancet Field. Carter doubled to lead off the top of the 18th inning, moved to third on a wild pitch with no outs but was stranded at third base after a pair of groundouts by Tobin Swope and Andy Topham before scoring on the passed ball by Wildcat catcher Chris Cunningham.Marc Kaiser managed a two-out single in the bottom of the 18th for Arizona but was forced out on a close play at second base on a fielders choice to end the game.
Topham (5-8, HR, RBI) led Stanford's offensive attack with a career-high five hits. Ryan McCally (2-0) picked up the victory by working a career-high 8.0 innings after relieving starter Jeremy Guthrie in the bottom of the 11th inning. McCally struck out seven, scattering two runs and seven hits. Guthrie, who kept his 11-game win streak intact, received no decision despite throwing a career-high 10.0 innings, allowing only two runs and scattering nine hits with five strikeouts.
Arizona starter Sean Rierson tossed 8.0 innings, scattering five hits and two runs (one earned) with four strikeouts. Jason Snyder (1-1), the fourth Wildcat pitcher, took the loss despite holding the Cardinal without an earned run in 3.2 innings.
Moises Duran (3-5, HR, RBI) and Brad Hassey (3-7) had three hits each for the Wildcats.Stanford had three players - Ryan Garko (2-4, 2B, RBI), Danny Putnam (2-7, 3B) and Jason Cooper (2-8, 3B) - with two hits each, while Brian Hall stole a pair of bases. Arizona also had three players - John Hardy (2-7, RBI), Justyn St. Clair (2-8, RBI) and Kaiser (2-8) - with a pair of hits.
The extra inning contest was the fourth time in the last seven games Stanford has gone extra innings with three victories.
The teams twice traded single runs in extra innings.
Topham led off the top of the 12th with a solo homer to left field to put the Cardinal ahead, 3-2.
Arizona tied the score at 3-3 when Kaiser singled to lead off bottom of the 12th, moved to second on a balk, stole third and scored on an RBI fielders choice by Hardy.
Stanford took the lead again, 4-3, in the top of the 15th when Donny Lucy singled to lead off the inning, moved to third on Cooper's single and scored on an RBI groundout by Carter.Arizona came right back with a run in the bottom of the 15th with three consecutive singles by Duran, Hassey and St. Clair.
Arizona began the game's scoring with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Hassey opened the Wildcat rally with a single, moved to second on a balk and third on a ground out before scoring on an RBI single by Anderson.
Stanford tied the game at 1-1 with a run in the top of the second. Carlos Quentin walked with one out, stole second base and advanced to third on a throwing error by Cunningham on the same play. Quentin scored when Kaiser misplayed a routine fly ball to left field by Arik VanZandt and was charged with an error.
Arizona broke the tie in the bottom of the third inning on a solo homer to left field by Duran.
Stanford retied the game at 2-2 in the top of the sixth inning when Ryan Garko doubled down the right field line to score Sam Fuld, who had walked to lead off the inning, stole second base and moved to third on the second throwing error of the game by Wildcat catcher Chris Cunningham.
Arizona committed a season-high seven errors in the game. Wildcat first baseman Pat Reilly recorded 29 putouts, while Stanford second baseman Chris O'Riordan had 10 assists.
The teams combined to leave 27 runners on base (Stanford 15, Arizona 12) and steal six bases (Stanford 4, Arizona 2). Arizona had just one extra base hit among its 16 hits, while six of Stanford's 15 hits were for extra bases.
Stanford has now won 13 of its last 15 games and needs just one victory in the final two games of the series to extend its series win streak that started last year versus Arizona (5/11-5/13/01) to 11 in a row.
Stanford and Arizona continue the series on Saturday (1 pm, MT, 12 pm, PT) before concluding on Sunday (1 pm, MT, 1 pm, PT). Arizona does not observe Daylight Savings Time, which begins on Sunday, April 7.