Feb. 14, 2003
Stanford, Calif. - John Hudgins carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning and John Mayberry, Jr. homered to lead No. 11 Stanford (4-5) to a 4-1 victory over Fresno State (1-4) in the series opener Friday at Sunken Diamond. Hudgins struck out nine while allowing just one run and three hits over the first 8.0 innings. Jed Lowrie (2-3, 2B), Mayberry (2-4, HR, RBI, SB), Sam Fuld (2-4, 2 2B, SB) and Carlos Quentin (2-4, RBI) combined for eight of Stanford's 10 hits. The victory snapped a two-game losing streak for the Cardinal and extended Fresno State's skid to four games.
"I knew we really needed this win tonight," said Hudgins, who led the Cardinal to only its second win in the last seven games. "That was my main focus but in the sixth and seventh inning I started to get my eye on the prize. I thought I was going to get it but baseball is a funny game."
There have been eight no-hitters in Stanford history with the last thrown by Chad Hutchinson, a five-inning rain shortened gem at Fresno State on February 1, 1998.
"John Hudgins has pitched very well for us in each of his last two outings," said Stanford head coach Mark Marquess.
Stanford took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning when Fuld doubled to lead off the inning for his 200th career hit, moved to third base on a fly ball by Brian Hall and scored on Quentin's RBI single.
The Cardinal lead remained 1-0 until Stanford scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh. Lowrie doubled to lead off the inning to chase Fresno State starter and losing pitcher Josh Glynn (0-2), who scattered eight hits and held the Cardinal to two runs over 6.0-plus innings. Fresno State reliever Chad Edwards then attempted to throw Lowrie out at third base on a sacrifice bunt by Tobin Swope, leaving Cardinal runners on first and third. An RBI infield single by Chris Lewis drove in the first run and Swope eventually came around to score on a pair of passed balls by Bulldog catcher Brandon Marcelli.
Fresno State got on the scoreboard in the top of the eighth inning. Tory Davis broke up Hudgins' no-hitter with a line drive single to center field with one out, moved to third on a single by pinch-hitter Aaron Kempster and scored on a two-out double by Ryan Haag. Hudgins then struck out Chris Patrick to get out of the jam with Haag left on second base as the tying run.
Mayberry gave Stanford the run back with his two-out homer over the left field wall in the bottom of the eighth, his second longball of the season.
"I tried to keep it simple tonight," said Mayberry. "I just tried to see the ball and hit the ball, and good things happened tonight."
Stanford's Mark Romanczuk retired the side in order in the top of the ninth to record his first collegiate save. Romanczuk has pitched 6.1 scoreless innings this season, allowing just one hit.
Hudgins was named the Pac-10 Pitcher of the Week last Tuesday for the first time in his career after holding Florida State to one run and six hits over the first 9.0 innings of a 12-inning, 2-1 Stanford victory on February 7. Hudgins improved to 2-0 on the season and lowered his ERA to 2.17.
Marquess earned his 1097th career coaching victory, leaving him three shy of becoming the 21st coach in the history of Division I baseball to reach the 1100 victory mark and four short of moving into the top 20 on the all-time Division I victory list.
Fuld extended his hit streak to six games, the longest active streak by a Stanford player.
Stanford started three freshman infielders for the first time this season in Mayberry (first base), Lewis (second base) and Lowrie (third base) that combined to go 5-for-10 with a double, homer, stolen base and two RBI.
"The freshman gave us a lift tonight," said Marquess. "We know they are good players and they were big tonight for us."
Stanford and Fresno State continue their three-game series Saturday and Sunday with start times scheduled each day for 1:00 pm. Stanford LHP Tim Cunningham (1-2, 4.20) is scheduled to pitch against Fresno State RHP Matt Garza (1-1, 15.75) on Saturday. Fresno State RHP Cody Smith (0-0, 2.25) is scheduled to pitch for the Bulldogs on Sunday, while Stanford has not announced a starting pitcher.
The Cardinal concludes its current seven-game homestand by hosting Nevada next Monday, February 17 (1 pm, PT).