March 2, 2003
Stanford, Calif. - Danny Putnam (3-4, 2 HR, 7 RBI) homered twice for the first time in his career and drove in a career-high seven runs to lift No. 9 Stanford (11-7) to an 18-4 victory over No. 16 USC (7-8) in the series finale before a season-high home crowd of 2780 at Sunken Diamond on Sunday. Stanford hit a season-high five homers in the contest as the Cardinal earned a series victory with its second straight win after dropping Friday night's opener. John Mayberry, Jr. (3-4, 3B, HR, 3 RBI), Brian Hall (2-4, HR, 2 RBI) and Chris Lewis (1-5, HR, 2 RBI) also went deep for the Cardinal. Ryan Garko (2-5, 2 2B, 3 RBI) drove in three runs and now has a team-high 22 RBI in the team's first 18 games.
"It was nice to get some longballs today," said Stanford head coach Mark Marquess. "The two three-run homers by Danny Putnam were obviously the key shots, and it was big for us to come back and win the final two games of the series after Friday night's loss."
"I felt really comfortable at the plate and was seeing the ball well today," added Putnam.
Mayberry extended his career-high hitting streak to 11 games and has hit safely in 17 of his first 18 collegiate contests, while also hitting his team-high fourth triple.
"I hoped to try to prove myself early in my career," said Mayberry. "I got some good pitches to hit today and put good swings on them."
Sam Fuld (2-5, 2B, SB) and Tobin Swope (2-5, 2B) added two hits each for the Cardinal, who set a new season-high with 18 runs.
Mark Romanczuk (4-0) earned the victory in his first collegiate start, scattering four runs and seven hits with four strikeouts over the first 6.0 innings. Matt Manship worked 3.0 scoreless innings to earn his third save, allowing just one hit and striking out four.
Stanford trailed 4-3 until breaking out for five runs after two were out with no runners on base in the bottom of the fifth to take an 8-4 lead. Fuld started the two-out rally with a double and stole third base before Carlos Quentin drew a walk. Garko then hit a shallow fly ball down the right field line that turned into a two-RBI double when it was overrun by USC rightfielder David Gordon. Mayberry followed with a walk and Putnam blasted the first of his two three-run homers over the rightcenter field fence to cap the rally.
Stanford added seven runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, the most runs the Cardinal has scored in a single frame this season. Fuld and Quentin led off the inning with singles before a double by Garko plated Fuld with the first run. Mayberry singled home Quentin before Putnam's second three-run homer in as many at bats. Stanford picked up two more runs when Swope singled with one out and Hall hit a two-run homer off the scoreboard in left field.The Cardinal finished its scoring with three more runs in the bottom of the eighth. Mayberry hit a two-out line drive solo shot over the left field fence before pinch-hitter Chris Minaker followed with a walk and Lewis hit the first homer of his collegiate career over the rightcenter field wall.
USC starter Bobby Paschal (0-3) took the loss, allowing eight runs (seven earned) and seven hits over the first 6.0 innings.
Anthony Lunetta (3-3, HR, 2 RBI) and Spencer Gordon (2-3) had multiple-hit games for USC.Stanford scored the first run of the contest in the bottom of the second when Swope led off with a double, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a throwing error by USC second baseman Jon Brewster when he attempted to throw out Hall at first base on an infield single.USC took a 2-1 advantage with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth on Darin Vieira's two-out bases loaded single that scored Lunetta and Jeff Clement.
Stanford regained a 3-2 lead by answering with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Garko reached on an error by USC third baseman Michael Moon to lead off the inning and scored when Mayberry tripled off the left field wall. Putnam then blooped a single into shallow right field to plate Mayberry.
USC answered with two runs in the top of the fifth to take a 4-3 on Lunetta's two-run homer that also scored Travis McAndrews, who had started the rally with a one-out single.
Stanford turned its first triple play of the season in the second inning when Gordon lined out to Swope at shortstop with Trojan runners at first and second base attempting to steal on the pitch. Swope tossed the ball to Lewis at second, who stepped on the bag and threw to Mayberry at first to complete the rare play.
Stanford will host California (11-5) in a three-game non-conference series at Sunken Diamond next Friday-Sunday, March 7-9 (6 pm, 1 pm, 1 pm, PT).