Feb. 15, 2003
Stanford, Calif. - David O'Hagan picked up his first collegiate win and Ryan Garko hit a key two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift No. 11 Stanford (5-5) to a 5-2 victory over Fresno State (1-5) on Saturday at Sunken Diamond. The victory assured Stanford of a series victory as the Cardinal will attempt to sweep the Bulldogs on Sunday (1 pm, PT). John Mayberry, Jr. (2-3) and Danny Putnam (2-4) had two hits each for Stanford, while Chris Patrick (2-4) was the only Fresno State player with more than one hit as the Bulldogs lost their fifth straight contest.
"Although I didn't get to pitch a lot my first two years, the guys on this team have always been behind me," said O'Hagan (1-1), who struck out six batters and gave up just one hit in 4.1 scoreless innings of relief. "It feels really good to be a part of this team."
O'Hagan got Stanford out of a third-inning jam when he relieved Stanford starter Tim Cunningham with one out, the bases loaded and one run already across the plate. O'Hagan struck out Tory Davis for the second out of the inning and retired Aaron Kempster on a fly out to centerfielder Sam Fuld to minimize the damage and keep Fresno State's lead at 2-0.
Stanford answered back to tie the score at 2-2 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning. Tobin Swope led off with a single and scored on an RBI triple by Chris Lewis. With one out, Brian Hall drove in Lewis with a sacrifice fly.
Stanford took a 3-2 lead with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning on three consecutive two-out singles. Putnam started the two-out rally with a single, moved to second on a single by Mayberry and scored on an RBI single by Jed Lowrie.
Fresno State threatened in the top of the seventh inning, loading the bases off O'Hagan on a walk, a single by Patrick and a two-out hit batsmen. Kodiak Quick relieved O'Hagan and struck out Davis to end the threat.
Fresno State stranded 10 runners, while Stanford left six runners on base.
"We were fortunate today to get out of a couple of possible big innings," said Stanford head coach Mark Marquess. "Fresno State had a couple of big spots where they had a chance to break the game open but wasn't able to get the big hit."
Garko added a couple of insurance runs for the Cardinal with his second homer of the season in the bottom of the eighth, a two-run line drive shot over the field wall.
"I felt like I swung the bat well all day today," said Garko. "It was a big spot and to get those two runs late was really big."
Mark Romanczuk shut out Fresno State in the eighth and ninth innings on just one hit to earn his second save of the series. Romanczuk has pitched 8.1 scoreless innings this season, allowing just two hits.
"All three of our relievers did a great job today," said Marquess. "Our bullpen has pitched well all year."
Marquess earned his 1098th career coaching victory, leaving him two shy of becoming the 21st coach in the history of Division I baseball to reach the 1100 victory mark and three short of moving into the top 20 on the all-time Division I victory list.
Fuld had his modest six-game hit streak end by going 0-for-4.
Fresno State starter Cody Smith (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing three runs and six hits over the first 5.2 innings.
RHP Ryan McCally (0-1, 4.85) is scheduled to pitch for the Cardinal on Sunday, while Fresno State has not announced a starting pitcher.
Stanford concludes its current seven-game homestand by hosting Nevada on Monday, February 17 (1 pm, PT).