Feb. 1, 2002
Stanford, Calif. - Carlos Quentin hit a three-run homer in the first inning while Jeremy Guthrie and Ryan McCally combined for 14 strikeouts without a walk to lead top-ranked Stanford (1-0) to a 7-4 win over No. 15 Cal State Fullerton (0-1) in the 2002 season opener for both teams at Sunken Diamond on Friday. Quentin, who also hit a three-run homer in his first collegiate at bat as a freshman last year, hit a 2-2 offering from losing pitcher Wes Littleton (0-1) off the scoreboard in leftcenter field in his first at bat of the 2002 campaign to give the Cardinal a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Guthrie (1-0) picked up the win by striking out nine, while scattering nine hits and four runs (two earned) over the first 6.0 innings. McCally tossed 3.0 innings of one-hit scoreless relief with five strikeouts to record his first save of the campaign.
"With two outs and two strikes I was just happy to put the bat on the ball," said Quentin about his homer.
"I was pleased with the victory today," added Stanford head coach Mark Marquess. "Both teams played pretty well for the first game of the season."
Stanford's victory was its fifth straight against the Titans dating back to last season when the Cardinal defeated Cal State Fullerton twice at the College World Series.
Sam Fuld (3-4, 2 2B) had three of Stanford's 11 hits, while Ryan Garko (2-4, 2B, RBI) and Scott Dragicevich (2-4, 2B, RBI) also had multiple-hit games. Brian Hall contributed an RBI.Geoff Comfort (2-4, HR, 2 RBI) led the Cal State Fullerton offense. Three other Titans - Nick Fitzgerald (2-4, RBI), Kyle Boyer (2-4) and Richie Burgos (2-4) - had two hits each. Jason Corapci added an RBI.
Stanford added to its 3-0 first inning lead with an unearned run in the third inning to take a 4-0 advantage when Garko doubled with one out and scored on an error by Titan shortstop David Munoz.
Cal State Fullerton scored a pair of unearned runs in the top of the fourth inning to cut the gap to 4-2 as Corapci and Fitzgerald both had RBI singles.
The Cardinal extended its lead to 7-2 with three runs in the bottom of the fifth frame. Fuld doubled with one out and scored on an RBI single by Garko who eventually coming around to score on an RBI single by Hall. Dragicevich drove in Jason Cooper with an RBI double for the final run of the frame. Munoz had his second error of the game in the inning.
Cal State Fullerton scored two more runs on a two-run homer to centerfield by Comfort in the top of the sixth inning before McCally allowed only one baserunner over the final 3.0 innings to earn the save.
Littleton was touched for 10 hits and seven runs (four earned) in 4.2 innings. Jordan DeJong held the Cardinal scoreless on one hit over the final 3.1 innings.
Stanford and Cal State Fullerton continue the three-game season opening series on Saturday before concluding the set Sunday. Both games are scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.