April 15, 2004
at
No. 2 Stanford (26-5, 4-2 Pac-10)
Friday, April 16, 6 pm
RHP Adam Gold (6-3, 3.28) vs. LHP Mark Romanczuk (6-1, 4.04)
Saturday, April 17, 1 pm
RHP Mike Padgett (3-4, 4.53) vs. TBA
Sunday, April 18, 1 pm
TBA vs. TBA
MEDIA COVERAGE
Gametracker: Friday | Saturday | Sunday
Live Audio: gostanford.com ... Sam Stefanki and Mike Etchepare will handle the broadcasts ... A Gametracker with live stats for all three games will also be available from a link at gostanford.com.
QUICK TEAM NOTES
Stanford sits atop the Pac-10 standings after posting a 4-2 record in its first six conference games on the road, one-half game ahead of both Arizona and Washington (4-3 Pac-10) ... Stanford is the No. 2 team in the latest of all four major college baseball national polls released on Monday, April 12 (Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball, NCBWA and Sports Weekly/ESPN) ... Last week, Stanford had been the nation's No. 1 team in the Baseball America (for the seventh consecutive week) and Collegiate Baseball polls, while ranking second in the NCBWA and Sports Weekly/ESPN polls ... Stanford's 26-5 record is the fourth-best in school history after 31 games following the 1982 (27-3-1), 1967 (26-3-2) and 1998 (26-4-1) clubs ... The Cardinal has won all nine of its regular season series this year, as well as 13 in a row and 21 of its last 22 dating back to last season ... Stanford has swept four of its nine series this season and seven during its current 13-series win streak ... Stanford has won 13 straight games and five consecutive series against California ... Stanford will play 17 of its remaining 25 regular season games at home, where the Cardinal has won 21 of its last 22 games at home and has a 12-1 record this season ... Stanford has also won 28 of its last 32 true road games, finishing last year with a 14-game win streak in true road games and beginning this season with a 14-4 mark away from Sunken Diamond ... All told, the Cardinal has a 49-9 record in its last 58 games dating back to last season ... Stanford has come from behind in 12 of its 26 wins this year and is 4-5 when either tied or trailing heading into the ninth inning (2-1 tied, 2-4 trailing) ... Stanford is 5-1 this season against ranked teams ... Stanford has been errorless in 12 of its first 31 games ... Stanford has more than doubled its opponents scoring (283-137) as 22 of its 26 wins have been by three or more runs and 12 by six or more runs ... Stanford is currently hitting a season-high and Pac-10-leading .321, while averaging 9.1 runs per contest after posting 10 or more runs in five of its last seven contests and a season-high seven straight double-digit hit games ... The pitching staff still leads the Pac-10 with a 4.00 ERA and rebounded from a five-game stretch in which it had a 7.12 ERA by giving up just three earned runs in its most recent game versus Santa Clara (4/13) ... The Cardinal second in the Pac-10 with a .972 fielding percentage ... Stanford is looking to extend its school record string of consecutive appearances at the College World Series to six, as well as its string of 40-win season to 10, while Stanford has won 50 or more games in three of the last four seasons ... Stanford has captured 11 Pac-10 titles in the last 21 years and finished either first or second in the conference 21 times in last 23 seasons.
QUICK INDIVIDUAL NOTES
National Player of the Year candidate Jed Lowrie leads the Cardinal in nearly every offensive category - batting average (.388), runs scored (42), doubles (7, shares team-lead), triples (4), homers (10), RBI (43), extra-base hits (21), total bases (90), slugging percentage (.776), bases on balls (27), on-base percentage (.497) and sacrifice flies (5) ... Lowrie is also tied for second on the club with 45 hits before team-leader Jonny Ash (49), who ranks just behind Lowrie with a .383 batting average ... John Mayberry, who has a current season-high nine-game hit streak (3/27 - 4/10), shares the team's lead with seven doubles, while ranking second in homers (9) and RBI (38), as well as third in batting average (.369) ... Brian Hall has moved up to fourth on the club with a .347 average during a current career-high hit streak of 16 games (3/5 - 4/13), the longest by a Stanford player this season, as his average has risen 139 points during the streak from a season-low .208 ... Hall also leads the team with nine stolen bases, while contributing seven homers and 31 RBI ... Hall and Jeff Stimpson swept the Pac-10 Player and Pitcher of the Week honors when the awards for the week ending April 11 were announced this Tuesday ... Ryan Seawell (.345), Danny Putnam (.336) and Donny Lucy (.327) are the team's other three players hitting better than .300 ... Putnam co-leads the team with seven doubles, while ranking third with eight homers and fourth with 29 RBI ... Sam Fuld (.279, 1 HR, 18 RBI, 4 SB) tied the all-time runs scored record at Stanford when he crossed the plate for the 243rd and 244th time during Stanford's most recent game versus Santa Clara on Tuesday ... Fuld is also among Stanford's all-time leaders in hits (324, #3), at bats (951, #3), triples (16, #3T), doubles (58, #6T) and games played (231, #7) ... Mark Romanczuk leads the team with six wins ... David O'Hagan also has a team-high four saves and the lowest ERA (2.60) among pitchers with at least one inning per team game played.
TBA
TBA
ALL-TIME SERIES
Stanford has won 13 straight games versus the Golden Bears and holds an all-time 224-207 advantage in the 431 career meetings between the schools. Earlier this season, Stanford swept a non-conference series against California in Berkeley (February 27-29; W, 12-9; W, 10-3; W, 6-2). In 2003, Stanford beat the Golden Bears in all six meetings, sweeping a non-conference series on The Farm from March 7-9 (W, 11-2; W, 9-4; W, 11-2) before taking a trio of close conference games May 9-11 in Berkeley (W, 9-8; W, 6-4; W, 5-4 - 10 inn.). The streak extends back to the 2002 season when the Cardinal won the final four games between the teams. Stanford has also won five straight series over the Golden Bears since California took two-of-three in Berkeley from April 27-29, 2001. California has not won a season-series versus the Cardinal since taking four-of-six in 1978.
2004 VERSUS CALIFORNIA
Stanford 12, at California 9 (February 27, 2004) - Jed Lowrie (3-3, 3 3B, 4 RBI) hit the first three triples of his career, drove in a career-high-tying four runs and reached base in all six at bats to lead Stanford to a 12-9 victory over California. Jonny Ash (3-5, 2 RBI) also had a three-hit day for the Cardinal, while Donny Lucy (2-5, HR, RBI) and Brian Hall (1-4, HR, RBI) homered. Jonny Dyer picked up the victory by limiting the Golden Bears to one run on four hits with one strikeout over 2.1 innings. David O'Hagan came on in the eighth and pitched 2.0 scoreless one-hit innings with a strikeout to earn a save. California's James Holder (4-5, 2B, HR, 4 RBI) had a game-high four hits. Matt Swanson, the fourth of six California pitchers, took the loss by allowing three runs and three hits with two strikeouts over 2.0 innings.
Stanford 10, at California 3 (February 28, 2004) - Stanford assured its fifth consecutive series victory over California with a 10-3 victory. Danny Putnam (3-5, HR, 2 RBI) led Stanford's 11-hit attack, while Jed Lowrie (2-3, 2B, 3 RBI, SB) drove in three runs. Jeff Gilmore scattered six hits and allowed just three runs over a career-high-tying 7.0 innings to earn the victory, striking out two and not walking a batter. Gilmore had perfect 1-2-3 innings in the first, second and fourth frames, while Stanford's only double play of the game helped him face just three batters in the sixth.
Stanford 6, at California 2 (February 29, 2004) - Stanford won its 13th straight game against California by completing a three-game non-conference sweep of the Golden Bears with a 6-2 victory. The win also marked the seventh consecutive win for the Cardinal at California's Evans Diamond. Blake Holler worked 7.0 innings to earn the victory, allowing just one run and five hits with four strikeouts. John Mayberry, Jr. (3-5, 2B, 3 RBI) led Stanford's 13-hit attack, while Donny Lucy (2-4, HR, RBI) hit his second homer of the series. Jonny Dyer got the final two outs in the bottom of the ninth to earn his first collegiate save.
THIS WEEK
at Stanford 12, Santa Clara 3 (April 13, 2004) - Sam Fuld scored twice to tie the school's all-time runs scored record in Stanford's 12-3 non-conference victory over Santa Clara. The Cardinal scored five times in the bottom of the first inning as Danny Putnam's three-run homer keyed the outburst. Jed Lowrie (3-4, 2B, HR, 3 RBI) and John Hester (3-5, 3 RBI) added three hits and three RBI each for the Cardinal with Lowrie blasing a two-run shot in the second inning for his team-leading 10th long ball of the season. Brian Hall extended his career-high hit streak to 16 games and stole his team-leading ninth base. Matt Leva - the first of five Stanford pitchers that combined on a six-hitter - was credited with the victory. Nathan Faulkner (2-4, HR, 2 RBI) homered and had a pair of hits for the Broncos.
LAST WEEK
Stanford 11, at Oregon State 8 (April 8, 2004) - Stanford scored seven runs in the final two innings and John Mayberry, Jr. hit a pair of home runs in an 11-8 victory over Oregon State. Stanford trailed 7-4 before tying the game with a three-run eighth inning and scoring four more runs in the ninth. Donny Lucy's two-RBI single in the ninth proved to be the game-winner, while Brian Hall hit a game-tying two-run homer in the eighth two batters after Mayberry led off the inning with a tape measure blast. Mayberry (2-4, 2 HR, 4 RBI) hit a pair of homers for the second time this season. David O'Hagan picked up the victory, while Kevin Gunderson suffered the loss. Chris Campos (2-4, 2B, HR, 3 RBI) and Paul Richie (2-4, 2B, HR, 3 RBI) both doubled, homered and drove in three runs for Oregon State.
at Oregon State 5, Stanford 4 (April 9, 2004) - Oregon State held off a late comeback by Stanford for a 5-4 victory. Stanford closed an early 5-1 Oregon State lead to a one run on Jed Lowrie's two-run homer in the top of the eighth inning but left five runners stranded in the final two frames. Oregon State reliever Ben Rowe picked up the first save of his career after coming on with two outs and runners on the corners in the top of the ninth inning to strike out John Mayberry, Jr. Mike Lissman (2-4, 2 HR, 4 RBI) provided most of the offensive punch for the Beavers with a pair of homers and four RBI, while Chris Campos was 3-for-3. Jake Postlewait scattered four runs and nine hits with five strikeouts over 7.1 innings in his winning performance. Blake Holler suffered the loss, allowing five runs and seven hits with two strikeouts and a walk in 3.2 innings. Brian Hall (2-3, HR, RBI), Ryan Seawell (2-4, 2B) and Sam Fuld (2-5, 2B) had two-hit games for the Cardinal.
Stanford 16, at Oregon State 4 (April 10, 2004) - Stanford scored seven runs in the top of the first inning and homered a season-high-tying five times to take a 16-4 victory over Oregon State in the rubber game of a three-game series. Donny Lucy (3-4, HR, 2 RBI), Brian Hall (3-5, HR, 3 RBI), Chris Carter (2-4, HR, 3 RBI), Danny Putnam (2-5, 2B, HR, season-high 4 RBI) and John Mayberry, Jr. (1-3, HR, 2 RBI) all homered for the Cardinal. Jonny Ash (4-6, RBI) recorded a career-high-tying four hits. Jeff Stimpson earned his first collegiate victory by striking out a career-high six batters in 2.2 hitless frames. Chris Campos (3-5, 2 HR, 4 RBI) homered twice and drove in four runs for Oregon State.
STANFORD NOW AT NO. 2 IN ALL FOUR NATIONAL POLLS
Stanford is now the No. 2 team in the latest of all four major national collegiate baseball polls -- Baseball America's, Collegiate Baseball, NCBWA, Sports Weekly/ESPN released Monday, April 12. Stanford had been the No. 1 team in the Baseball America poll for seven consecutive weeks (February 23 - April 5), as well as the nation's unanimous No. 1 team for two weeks (March 22-29) before falling from the top spot to second on April 5 in both the NCBWA and Sports Weekly/ESPN polls before dropping from the top in the Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball polls on April 12. Stanford has been ranked No. 1 at some point in the season for seven of the last eight campaigns. The Cardinal had a string of six consecutive seasons (1997-2002) with a top ranking going but never reached the top of the Baseball America poll in 2003. However, Stanford did finish the 2003 season ranked second in all four polls.
2004 CARDINAL HAS FOURTH-BEST RECORD IN SCHOOL HISTORY AFTER 31 GAMES
Stanford's 26-5 record after its first 31 games is the fourth-best record in school history at this point in the season, following the 1982 (26-3-1), 1967 (25-3-2) and 1998 (25-4-1) clubs.
STANFORD LEADS PAC-10 BY ONE-HALF GAME
Stanford (4-2 Pac-10) leads the conference standings by one-half game after winning four-of-six contests on the road to begin the season with two-of-three series victories at both UCLA (4/2 - 4/4) and Oregon State (4/8 - 4/10). Washington and Arizona are tied for second-place one-half game back with 4-3 league marks in the bunched-up league standings. California has a 6-6 mark, while Washington State, UCLA and USC are all at 3-3. Oregon State (4-5) and Arizona State (3-6) are the only teams under .500 in conference games.
TOP OF THE PAC
Stanford has won 19 conference championships in school history, including 17 Pac-10 crowns (includes Southern Division and shared titles). The Cardinal won its most recent crown in 2003 when the club finished with an 18-6 conference mark. Stanford had finished second in the conference behind two-time defending league champion USC in 2001 and 2002 prior to its previous Pac-10 title when it shared the championship with Arizona State and UCLA in 2000. Stanford has been among the top two in the conference standings (includes Pac-10 Southern Division) for 10 straight seasons and 21 times in the last 23 years.
STANFORD PICKED AS FAVORITE IN 2004 PRESEASON PAC-10 COACHES POLL
Stanford was picked as the favorite in the 2004 Preseason Pac-10 Coaches Poll, picking up seven first-place votes. Arizona State and Arizona each garnered one first-place vote, while finishing second and third in the poll. USC, Washington, California, UCLA, Oregon State and Washington State rounded out the poll.
STANFORD UNBEATEN IN 2004 SERIES, EXTENDS SERIES WIN STREAK TO 13
Stanford's two-of-three series victory at Oregon State (4/8 - 4/10) in its most recent series kept the Cardinal unbeaten in nine regular season series this year and extended the team's series win streak to 13 in a row dating back to last year. The Cardinal has swept four of its nine series this season and seven during the streak. Stanford has also won 21 of its last 22 regular season series, including 10 in a row on the road and six straight at home. Stanford lost just two series in 2003, dropping two-of-three at home to Arizona (4/25 - 4/27) and being swept at Cal State Fullerton (1/31 - 2/2).
HOME SWEET HOME
Stanford plays 17 of its remaining 25 regular season games at home, where the Cardinal has won 21 of its last 22 contests dating back to last season. Stanford is 12-1 at Sunken Diamond this season, had a 16-game home win streak before Texas broke the run with a 9-6 victory over the Cardinal on February 21 to also hand the Cardinal its first and only home loss of 2004. Stanford started the 16-game home win streak in 2003 with a 9-8 victory over UCLA (5/18) to clinch the Pac-10 title before sweeping Cal Poly (5/23 - 5/25) to end the 2003 regular season and won all five 2003 NCAA Tournament home games versus Illinois Chicago (5/30), UC Riverside (5/31) and Richmond (6/1) in NCAA Regional, as well as Long Beach State twice in the NCAA Super Regional (6/6 - 6/7). The streak continued for the first seven home games of 2004 when the Cardinal swept Cal State Fullerton (1/30 - 2/1) and Kansas (2/13 - 2/15), before winning the first game of its series versus Texas (2/20). Stanford's school record home win streak is 27 victories in a row from April 30, 1982 - April 15, 1983.
STANFORD HAS ALSO WON 28 OF LAST 32 GAMES ON THE ROAD
Stanford, which concluded a stretch of 15 of 18 games on the road by winning two-of-three at Oregon State from April 8-10, has won 28 of its last 32 true road contests dating back to last year. Stanford finished the 2003 season by winning its final 14 true road games (at Arizona State 3/23 - 3/24; at Washington State 4/4 - 4/5, 4/7; at Santa Clara, 4/8; at Sacramento State, 4/22; at USC 5/3, DH - 5/4; at San Jose State 5/6; at California, 5/11). The Cardinal is 14-4 on the road this year, winning two-of-three at Fresno State (2/6 - 2/8), sweeping a three-game road set at California (2/27 - 2/29), taking two-of-three at USC (3/5 - 3/7), returning from a 15-day break with three consecutive wins at Saint Mary's (3/23), Santa Clara (3/24) and San Jose State (3/30), taking two-of-three at UCLA (4/2 - 4/4) and winning two-of-three at Oregon State (4/8 - 4/10).
CARDINAL 49-9 IN LAST 58 GAMES
Stanford's success both at home and on the road has led to an incredible run as the Cardinal is a combined 49-9 over its last 58 games dating back to last season. In 2003, the Cardinal was 23-4 in its final 27 games before jumping out to a 26-5 start this season.
POWER SURGE
Stanford banged out 11 homers in its most recent series at Oregon State (4/8 - 4/10) and now has 17 longballs in its first six conference contests. The power surge during Pac-10 play is part of the team's offensive explosion over the last 13 games. Since returning from a 15-day break at Saint Mary's on March 23, the Cardinal has hit 29 home runs. Stanford has at least one home run in each of its last seven games (4/2 - 4/13) and 49 for the season. The Cardinal is nearly halfway to the school record of 102 hit by the 1997 club.
LOWRIE AND ROMANCZUK APPEAR ON WATCH LISTS
Jed Lowrie (Baseball America, USA Baseball Golden Spikes) and Mark Romanczuk (Roger Clemens Award) appear on high profile Player and Pitcher of the Year Watch Lists, respectively. Lowrie has emerged as the team's top offensive player, leading the club in nearly every offensive category, including batting average (.388), homers (10), RBI (43), runs scored (42), doubles (7, shares team lead), triples (4), total bases (90), slugging percentage (.776), bases on balls (27) and sacrifice flies (5). Defensively, Lowrie has made just five errors in his first 146 chances for a .966 fielding percentage while starting all 31 games at either shortstop or second base. Romanczuk leads the team in wins (6-1), strikeouts (54) and innings pitched (55.2), while posting a 4.04 ERA that is the best among Cardinal starters. Lowrie (NCBWA Co-Hitter of the Week, March 2) and Romanczuk (Pac-10 Pitcher of the Week, March 9) have already earned weekly recognition for their achievements this season.
ASH, HALL, MAYBERRY, O'HAGAN AND PUTNAM ALSO MAKING ALL-AMERICAN BIDS
Jonny Ash, Brian Hall, John Mayberry, Jr., David O'Hagan and Danny Putnam are all making strong cases for All-American honors along with Player/Pitcher of the Year Watch List selections Jed Lowrie and Mark Romanczuk. Ash leads the team with 49 hits and ranks second with a .383 batting average, adding four homers and 25 RBI. Hall has a current career-high 16-game hit streak going (3/5 - 4/13; .456, 31-68, 3 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 17 RBI, 6 SB) that has raised his average 139 points from .208 to its current .347. Hall also leads the club with nine stolen bases, while contributing seven homers and 31 RBI. Mayberry has also been swinging a hot bat with a current nine-game hit streak (3/27 - 4/10; .441, 15-34, 3 2B, 4 HR, 15 RBI, 2 SB). Mayberry shares the team lead with nine homers, while ranking in RBI (38) and third in batting average (.369). O'Hagan has put up excellent numbers, posting a 4-0 record and saving a team-high four games with a 2.52 ERA in 12 appearances out of the bullpen. He has struck out 39 batters in 35.2 innings and allowed just 25 hits with opponents hitting only .202 against him. Putnam is hitting .336 with eight homers and 29 RBI.
FULD TIES SCHOOL'S ALL-TIME RUNS RECORD
Sam Fuld scored twice in Stanford's most recent game versus Santa Clara on April 13 to tie Stanford's all-time runs scored mark (Mark Davis, 244, 1983-86). Fuld is also among Stanford's all-time leaders in hits (324, #3), at bats (951, #3), triples (16, #3T), doubles (58, #6T) and games played (231, #7).
SAVE DROUGHT
After logging 10 saves in its first 19 wins to threaten the pace of the school record 23 saves recorded in 2001, Stanford has not recorded a save in its last six victories and eight games since David O'Hagan saved a 3-1 win for the Cardinal over Cal Poly on March 27. O'Hagan leads the way with four, while Blake Holler has picked up a pair. Jonny Dyer, Jeff Gilmore, Matt Manship and Kodiak Quick have one each.
THE NEW NINE
Nine players have made their first appearances in a game for the Cardinal this season. Blake Holler has been in the starting rotation for the last eight weekend series and is 3-2 with a 4.65 ERA, adding two saves in nine appearances and seven starts while striking out 28 batters in 40.2 innings of work. Jeff Stimpson has become one of the team's top relievers, allowing just one run and nine hits in his first 16.2 collegiate innings for an 0.54 ERA as well as a team-low .161 batting average while striking out 15. Stimpson won his first collegiate game when he struck out a career-high six batters in 2.2 hitless innings at Oregon State on April 10. Ryan Seawell has 10 hits in his first 29 collegiate at bats for a .345 batting average in 13 games played and five starts, while also contributing two doubles and seven RBI. Adam Sorgi has started 14 of the team's first 30 games at shortstop and appeared in 18. Sorgi has a .220 batting average, a double and four RBI. Jim Rapoport has played in 17 games with five starts, contributing a .259 batting average, one triple and four RBI. Matt Leva has a 3-0 record and a 4.76 ERA in seven appearances and two starts. Greg Reynolds is 1-0 with a 4.91 ERA in 7.1 innings over four relief appearances. Ben Summerhays is hitting .200 with two hits in 10 at bats over eight games played off the bench and former student manager Cameron Matthews has played in four games, three as a pinch-runner and his first as a defensive player when he entered the game in right field during Stanford's most recent contest versus Santa Clara on April 13.
COMEBACK CREW
Stanford has come from behind at some point in 12 of its first 26 victories this season, coming back to win games when trailing by three or more runs heading into the eighth inning on three occasions. Brian Hall provided arguably the most dramatic moment of the season when his first career grand slam capped a seven-run Stanford ninth inning rally for a 10-6 victory over Kansas (2/15). Stanford trailed 7-3 at USC (3/6) before scoring four times in the top of the ninth inning to extend the game into extra innings and eventually take home an 8-7 win in 13 frames. Most recently, the Cardinal trailed 7-4 after seven innings at Oregon State (4/8) before scoring three runs in the eighth to tie the game and four more times in the ninth to win the contest.
WINNING BY A BUNCH
Despite having to come from behind in 12 of its 26 wins, 22 of the team's victories have come by three runs or more and 12 have been by six or more runs as Stanford has more than doubled its opponents' run production this season by a count of 283-137.
ERRORLESS EFFORTS
Stanford has played errorless baseball in 12 of its first 31 games this season, including a string of five straight errorless games from January 31 - February 8, as well as three in a row in a series at California (2/27 - 2/29), as well as three straight against three different teams in Cal Poly (3/28), San Jose State (3/30) and UCLA (4/2). Stanford is currently fielding at a .972 clip that would rank tied for third on the school's all-time list.
STANFORD CONCLUDES HOMESTAND, TRAVELS TO SACRAMENTO STATE NEXT WEEK
Stanford will continue a six-game homestand by hosting Saint Mary's (Tuesday, April 20, 6 pm, PT) and Sacramento State (Friday, April 23, 6 pm, PT) in a pair of non-conference games next week before traveling to Sacramento State to conclude the week's action on Saturday, April 24 (1 pm, PT).
OFFENSIVE REPORT
Stanford has averaged 9.1 runs per contest and is hitting a season-high .321 through its first 31 games. Over the last 16 games, the Cardinal is hitting .344 to raise its current team average 35 points from the .286 it stood at after a three-game series versus Texas (2/20 - 2/22). The team is also coming off its most recent Pac-10 series at Oregon State (4/8 - 4/10) in which it hit 11 homers and has 17 long balls in its first six conference games, as well as 29 in 13 games since returning from its 15-day break at Saint Mary's on March 23 and 49 on the season. National Player of the Year candidate Jed Lowrie leads the club in nearly every offensive category - batting average (.388), runs scored (42), doubles (7, shares team lead), triples (4), homers (10), RBI (43), total bases (90), slugging percentage (.776), bases on balls (27), on-base percentage (.497), sacrifice flies (5), extra-base hits (21) and multiple-RBI games (13). Lowrie is also tied on the club for second with 45 hits. Jonny Ash leads the squad with a 49 hits and ranks second with a .383 batting average. John Mayberry shares the team lead in doubles (7), while ranking second in homers (9), RBI (38) and hits (45, tied with Lowrie), as well as third in batting average (.369). Brian Hall, who leads the club with nine stolen bases and four sacrifice bunts, has been on a hot stretch of his own with a current career-high 16-game hit streak (3/5 - 4/13; .456, 31-68, 3 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 17 RBI, 6 SB) that has raised his average 139 points from .208 to its current .347. Hall is also third on the club with 31 RBI and fourth with seven homers. Ryan Seawell (.345) and Donny Lucy (.327) are the team's other players hitting .300 or better. Lucy has also been hit by a team-high nine pitches. Stanford scored a season-high 18 runs at Santa Clara (3/23), posted a season-high 18 hits in an 8-7 win in 13 innings at USC (3/6) and has had season-highs of five homers at Fresno State (2/7) and Oregon State (4/10). Stanford has scored in double figures 15 times and has 10 or more hits in 24 of its first 31 games, including seven in a row and 16 of its last 19.
PITCHING REPORT
Stanford still leads the Pac-10 with a 4.00 ERA despite suffering a recent five-game stretch (4/3 - 4/10) in which the Cardinal posted a 7.12 ERA before rebounding by giving up just three earned runs in its most recent game versus Santa Clara (4/13). In its previous six games before the tough five-game stretch, Stanford had allowed just 10 earned runs. Mark Romanczuk leads the club in victories (6), strikeouts (54) and innings pitched (55.2), and has the lowest ERA (4.04) among starters. Jeff Gilmore has added five victories, while David O'Hagan has four. Blake Holler and Matt Leva have three each, while Jonny Dyer, Mark Jecmen, Matt Leva, Kodiak Quick, Jeff Stimpson and Greg Reynolds one a piece. O'Hagan's 2.52 ERA leads those that have pitched at least one inning per game played by the team, while opponents are also hitting only .202 against O'Hagan, who also leads the club with four saves. Holler has added two saves, while Dyer, Gilmore, Matt Manship and Quick have one each. Stimpson has turned into one of the team's top relievers, allowing just one run and nine hits with 15 strikeouts in his first 16.2 collegiate innings for an 0.54 ERA and a .161 opponents batting average. O'Hagan leads the club with 12 appearances, while Gilmore and Romanczuk have both started a team-high-tying nine contests.
DEFENSIVE REPORT
Stanford's current fielding percentage sits at .972, which ranks tied for third on the school's all-time list. Stanford has played errorless baseball in 12 of its first 31 games. The Cardinal made just three errors in its first eight games as its fielding percentage reached as high as .991 after a five-game errorless string (1/31 - 2/8). Stanford also played three straight errorless contests with a perfect defensive series at California (2/27 - 2/29) and then three more in games versus Cal Poly (3/28), San Jose State (3/30) and UCLA (4/2). John Mayberry, Jr. leads the club with 294 putouts and has made just one error in his team-high 308 defensive chances. Mayberry also had a single-game team-high of 17 putouts at USC (3/6). Jed Lowrie has a team-high 98 assists and has made just five errors in his first 31 starts at either shortstop or second base for a .966 fielding percentage. Jonny Ash and Adam Sorgi had team-high-tying seven-assist games versus Cal State Fullerton (2/1) and Cal Poly (3/27), respectively. Stanford has turned 32 double plays this season, including a season-high three at Fresno State (2/8), versus Kansas (2/15) and versus Texas (2/22).
STANFORD HAS PICKED UP THREE 50-WIN SEASONS IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS
Stanford has won 50 or more games in three of the last four years to run its total of 50-win campaigns in school history to six. The Cardinal won a school record 59 contests in 1990. The 1987 CWS championship squad posted 53 victories, while the 2001 and 2003 teams picked up 51 wins. The Cardinal won an even 50 games in 1999 and 2000.
CARDINAL LOOKING TO EXTEND RECORD STRING OF 40-WIN SEASONS TO 10
Stanford will be looking to extend its school record string of 40-win seasons to 10 in 2004. The last time Stanford didn't win 40 games was when the club finished 27-28 in 1993.
2004 PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN HONORS
Four Stanford players have earned 2004 Preseason All-American honors. Sam Fuld picked up a pair of First Team honors (Baseball America, NCBWA), as well as Second Team (Baseball America) and honorable mention (CollegeBaseballInsider.com). John Mayberry, Jr. earned Second Team recognition from Baseball America. Danny Putnam was a First Team selection by Baseball America and CollegeBaseballInsider.com, as well as Third Team NCBWA selection, while Mark Romanczuk was named a Third Team Preseason All-American by Baseball America and the NCBWA and received honorable mention recognition from CollegeBaseballInsider.com.
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STANFORD HEAD COACH MARKMARQUESS
One of the nation's premier collegiate coaches and the winningest coaching in Stanford Baseball history, Mark Marquess is in his 28th season at the helm of the Cardinal in 2004 with a 1170-556-5 (.677) record in 1731 career games, as well as even more impressive marks in the postseason (105-46, .695), and Pac-10 (466-296, .612). Marquess entered the 2004 season ranked 19th on the NCAA's all-time Division I victory list and 46th on the all-time winning percentage list for Division I coaches. For active coaches, he began the season ninth in victories and 15th in winning percentage. He became the 23rd coach in the history of NCAA Division I baseball to reach the 1000-win mark with a victory over Florida State on February 9, 2001. Just over two years later, he picked up win No. 1100 versus Nevada on February 17, 2003. He won his 100th career postseason game in Stanford's NCAA Super Regional clinching victory over Long Beach State (6/7/03). The 1969 Stanford graduate has led the Cardinal to two CWS titles and three runner-up showings in five CWS championship appearances, as well as 13 College World Series trips, five NCAA Super Regional titles, 13 NCAA Regional championships and 11 Pac-10 crowns (includes Southern Division and shared titles). Stanford has also qualified for the NCAA Tournament 21 times in the first 27 years under Marquess. He has been named NCAA Coach of the Year three times and has received Pac-10 or Pac-10 Southern Division Coach of the Year honors on nine occasions, most recently with his selection in 2003. The Cardinal has had 26 winning campaigns in 27 seasons prior to this season under his leadership and finished either first or second in the prestigious Pacific-10 (formerly Pac-10 Southern Division) 21 times in the last 23 years. Stanford has had 112 players drafted by professional baseball in the past 19 seasons, including 14 first round selections in the last 17 years. A member of the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, Marquess was the head coach of the 1988 United States Olympic baseball team that captured the gold medal. Marquess was also an accomplished football and baseball standout on The Farm and is a member of the Stanford Athletic Hall of Fame. He is one of only six collegiate baseball head coaches to have both played and coached in the College World Series. Marquess was the starting first baseman and a First Team All-American on Stanford's 1967 CWS squad and played four seasons of minor league baseball with the Chicago White Sox organization.
COMMENTS FROM MARKMARQUESS
(on winning two-of-three at Oregon State)
"It was a tough weekend with some good games. The first two games were very tight, and it was a tough series. I'm pleased we won two-of-three."
(on the Pac-10)
"The league is very balanced and if you don't play well on a given weekend, you're not going to win. There is not a team in the conference right now that could be said couldn't still win the conference. It will be the team that can get a hot and get a sweep or two that will probably win the conference."
(on returning to Sunken Diamond for 18 of its final 26 regular season home games)
"It feels good to be coming back home, but you still have to play well and can't be overconfident. I don't think being at home is that big advantage in the Pac-10 this year so far."
(on Sam Fuld tying Stanford's all-time runs record)
"Sam Fuld has been one of our key players throughout his career, and he's worked hard for this."
(on California)
"They're coming off a big weekend at USC in which they won two-of-three and they haven't done that down in Los Angeles at USC for a while, so they are playing very well."
STANFORD COACHING STAFF
Dean Stotz is in his 28th campaign with Stanford Baseball and his fifth season as associate head coach after he was promoted to the position prior to the 2000 campaign. Stotz served for 23 years as an assistant. Stotz currently coaches third base while also handling various offensive and defensive aspects of the game. Tom Kunis is in his fifth season as Stanford's pitching coach, while Dave Nakama is in his fifth year overall as a Stanford assistant coach.
STANFORD BASEBALL HISTORY
Now in its 111th season, Stanford's storied baseball program has had many highlights since the program began in 1892 ... Stanford has won two NCAA titles (1987, `88) and made 15 appearances in the College World Series, also finishing as the runner-up on three occasions (2000, `01, `03) ... Stanford has also won five NCAA Super Regional titles ... Stanford has qualified for the NCAA Tournament 24 times ... Stanford has won 19 conference championships ... Stanford began the 2004 season with 38 winning seasons in the last 39 campaigns and 55 in its last 57 seasons ... Stanford has won 50 or more games four times in the last five years and six times in school history ... Stanford has won 40 or more games in a school record nine consecutive years and 18 times in school history ... Stanford has an all-time record of 2403-1489-32 (.616) ... A total of 69 former Stanford players have became Major League Baseball players with 12 suiting up in an MLB uniform in 2003 (Jeff Austin - Cincinnati Reds; Joe Borchard, Chicago White Sox; Eric Bruntlett - Houston Astros; Jody Gerut - Cleveland Indians; Jeffrey Hammonds - Milwaukee Brewers, San Francisco Giants; Rick Helling - Baltimore Orioles, Florida Marlins; A.J. Hinch, Detroit Tigers; Dave McCarty - Boston Red Sox, Oakland A's; Jason Middlebrook - New York Mets; Mike Mussina - New York Yankees; Justin Wayne - Florida Marlins; Jason Young - Colorado Rockies) and Bruntlett, Gerut and Young making their debut last season ... Stanford has also had 14 players selected in the first round of the MLB First-Year Player Draft in the last 17 years ... Stanford has boasted 44 All-Americans that have combined to win 54 All-American honors ... Stanford has garnered three NCAA Players of the Year in Jeff Austin (1998), David McCarty (1991) and Steve Dunning (1970) ... Stanford has had an even 100 players earn a combined 133 All-Conference honors ... Six Stanford players earned All-Pac-10 honors in each of the last two seasons, breaking the previous mark of five previously set in 1985, `90 and `94.