April 17, 2003
Stanford, Calif. - No. 4 Stanford (25-10, 8-2 Pac-10) extended its lead in the Pac-10 standings and won its season-best seventh in a row with a 5-2 victory over Oregon State (16-18, 3-7 Pac-10) in a Pac-10 game at Sunken Diamond on Thursday. The Cardinal moved two games ahead of Arizona State (6-4 Pac-10), a 9-8 loser versus UCLA on Thursday. USC and Arizona are both also 6-4 in the Pac-10 standings after 3-1 and 11-9 victories over California and Washington State, respectively.
Stanford's John Hudgins (7-2) pitched his third complete game of the season and the second in his last three outings, allowing just two runs and six hits while striking out 10. Donny Lucy (3-4, 2B, HR, RBI) blasted his first homer of the season and tied a career-high with three hits, while Carlos Quentin extended his career-best hit streak to 23 games with his team-leading 18th double of the season in the fifth inning.
"Every time I step on the mound I would like to close it out and get that complete game," said Hudgins, who has now lasted at least 6.0 innings in 12 of his starts and 7.0 innings or more in eight of those 12. "I'm very competitive that way and really like to finish out games."
Hudgins did not give up a run after the fourth inning and held the Beavers to just two hits over his final 5.2 innings of work and retired 17 of the final 20 batters he faced with seven strikeouts during the stretch.
"It almost seems like I get looser as the game goes on," said Hudgins. "Also, once I face hitters once or twice I tend to get a better read on how to pitch them."
Hudgins is now tied for the Pac-10 lead with seven victories and continues to pace the conference in both strikeouts (88) and innings pitched (90.0).
"I've put a concerted effort into putting out a good outing every week," added Hudgins."John Hudgins had a great outing and wanted to finish the game tonight," added Marquess. "He's pitched well for us all year and given us a chance to win just about every time out."
Oregon State starter Ben Rowe (3-4) suffered the loss despite pitching his first complete game of the season and limiting the Cardinal to five runs and eight hits.
Oregon State's Chris Biles (2-3, 2 2B) was the only player for either team other than Lucy with two or more hits.
Stanford got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning when Quentin drew a two-out walk and was doubled home by Ryan Garko with his team-leading 47th RBI of the season.
Oregon State tied the score at 1-1 in the top of the second inning when Biles drew a one out walk, moved to second on a groundout by Levi Webber and scored on a two-out RBI single by Paul Richie.
Oregon State took a short-lived 2-1 lead with a run in the top of the fourth when Andy Jarvis singled with one out, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI double by Ton Calderon.
The Cardinal took the lead for good with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Tobin Swope started the rally with a one-out bunt single and scored on an RBI double by Sam Fuld to tie the game at 2-2. Quentin then doubled home Fuld when his two-out pop-up in shallow right field fell safely despite a diving attempt by Biles in right field. After Garko was walked intentionally, Putnam drove home Quentin for the final run of the inning with an RBI single.Lucy led off the bottom of the sixth inning for the final run of the game.
"I've been feeling really good at the plate lately," said Lucy, who extended his season-long hit streak to five games.
Oregon State put baserunners at second and third in top of the seventh before Hudgins retired Chris Kunda on a groundball to Jonny Ash at second base to get out of the jam.
Biles also had a two-out double in the top of the ninth before Hudgins struck out Webber to end the game.
Quentin's updated career average stands at .414 as he is attempting to become the first Stanford player to hit .400 in a season since David McCarty batted .420 in 1991.
Stanford's errorless game was its second in a row and 12th of the season.
Stanford and Oregon State continue their three-game series Friday (6 pm) and Saturday (1 pm). Stanford needs just one victory in the final two games of the series to extend its series win streak to eight, its home Pac-10 series win streak to 15 and its home series win streak to five.
Next week, Stanford will travel to Sacramento State for a makeup game on Tuesday, April 23 (2:30 pm) before hosting Arizona for three Pac-10 games Friday-Sunday, April 25-27 (6 pm, 1 pm, 1 pm, PT).
The Arizona game on April 25 will be the first Stanford Baseball game to be televised by the College Sports Television Network (CSTV), which made its debut earlier this month. Stanford's home game versus UCLA on Sunday, May 18, is also scheduled to be televised by CSTV.