Jan. 26, 2003
Stanford, Calif. - No. 3 Stanford (2-0) came within one out of recording the ninth no-hitter in school history in a 5-0 win over Santa Clara (0-2) at Sunken Diamond on Super Bowl Sunday to complete a two-game sweep of the Broncos. Santa Clara's Eric Newton doubled in his first collegiate at bat off Cardinal reliever Matt Manship to break up the no-hitter. Stanford starter Tim Cunningham (1-0) earned the victory by pitching 5.2 hitless innings before walking two batters in the fifth and being relieved by Manship, who retired the first nine batters he faced in his collegiate debut and struck out designated hitter Carl Bacon following Newton's hit to record his first collegiate save.
The last Stanford no-hitter was thrown nearly five years ago when current Dallas Cowboys' quarterback Chad Hutchinson no-hit Fresno State for five innings on February 1, 1998. Current New York Mets' pitcher Jason Middlebrook tossed the last nine-inning no-hitter for the Cardinal versus UCLA in the second game of a doubleheader on May 8, 1994.
"I was really pleased with the stuff that I had today," said Cunningham.
"I was happy with the results from my first collegiate experience," added Manship. "Now that I it's over, I feel like I've just jumped over a huge hump."
Danny Putnam (2-2, 2B, HR, RBI) continued his hot start by homering for the second consecutive game. John Mayberry, Jr. (2-4, 2B) also had a pair of hits for the Cardinal.
"I'm seeing the ball really well and just letting the game come to me," said Putnam. "I've been rewarded with a couple of home runs in my first two games this year."
"Tim Cunningham and Matt Manship both obviously did a super job for us today," added Stanford head coach Mark Marquess, who won his 1095th career collegiate game. "Offensively, Danny Putnam has as much power as anybody on our team and is off to a great start this year."
Stanford struck for two runs in the bottom of the second inning off Santa Clara starter Matt Travis (0-1), who suffered the loss despite holding the Cardinal to three runs and five hits over the first 6.0 innings. Ryan Garko doubled to lead off the second and moved to third on a balk by Travis before scoring on an RBI groundout from Donny Lucy. Putnam then hit a two-out solo homer to give the Cardinal a 2-0 lead.
The Cardinal added another run in the bottom of the fifth to increase its lead to 3-0 when Putnam doubled to lead off the inning and scored on an RBI fielders choice by Jonny Ash two batters later.
Stanford tacked on a pair of unearned insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh. Lucy led off the inning with a single, moved to second on a wild pitch and third on a sacrifice bunt by Putnam. Brian Hall then hit a groundball to third base and Lucy scored when Bronco third baseman Michael Thompson overthrew catcher Jim Wallace while trying to throw Lucy out at the plate. Hall, who had advanced to second on Thompson's throwing error, then stole third base and scored on Tobin Swope's two-out RBI bunt single.
Stanford has now beaten Santa Clara in 24 of the last 25 meetings between the clubs.
Stanford will travel to No. 13 Cal State Fullerton for a three-game series next Friday-Sunday, January 30-February 2 (7 pm, 6 pm, 1 pm, PST).