Feb. 25, 2006
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Fresno, Calif. - Fresno State (7-7) scored three unearned runs in the bottom of the eighth inning in a 7-5 comeback victory over Stanford (8-4) at Beiden Field on Saturday to snap a season-best four-game Cardinal win streak and even a three-game series between the clubs. The Cardinal held a 5-4 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth that pinch-hitter Chase Moore erased with a two-RBI single to score Christian Vitters and Brian Lapin. Erik Wetzel's RBI double two batters later scored pinch-runner Nick Moresi with an insurance run.
Stanford led 4-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth but the Bulldogs evened the score at 4-4 with a three-run sixth before the Cardinal briefly went back ahead, 5-4, on Chris Minaker's one-out RBI single in the seventh that scored Joey August, who had walked to lead off the inning and moved to second on Jim Rapoport's sacrifice bunt.
Moore, Wetzel (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI) and Ryan Overland drove in two runs each for the Bulldogs with Wetzel the only Fresno State player posting a multiple-hit game.
Minaker (2-4, RBI, SB) and Chris Lewis (2-4, RBI) had a pair of hits each for Stanford. Ryan Seawell hit his first home run of the season for the Cardinal with a solo shot in the fifth, while Michael Taylor had a first inning single to extend his hit streak to a career-high-tying six games.
Jeremy Bleich (1-1) suffered the loss as all three unearned runs in the eighth inning were credited to his pitching line after he started the frame. Bleich got just one out, while allowing a hit and also hitting a batter.
Bleich struck out Beau Mills to start the eighth but then hit Vitters to start the Bulldog rally. He forced Lapin to hit a potential inning-ending double play groundball to Lewis but the Cardinal second baseman failed to field the ball cleanly before throwing wildly in an attempt to salvage an out at first base. The runners moved to second and third on the play, while Lewis was charged with a pair of errors. Moore made the Cardinal pay for the miscue when he drilled Bleich's first offering up the middle for a two-run single that gave Fresno State its first lead of the contest and ended Bleich's day. Wetzel followed with his RBI double two batters later to score Moresi, who had moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Overland.
Fresno State reliever Jason Breckley (2.2 IP, 1 H, 2 SO) earned the victory after taking over for starter Eddie Romero (6.1 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO). Breckley retired the last eight batters he faced after allowing Minaker's RBI single that gave the Cardinal its 5-4 lead in the top of the seventh.
Stanford got out to a 3-0 advantage in the contest by scoring single runs in the first, fourth and fifth innings.
Three consecutive two-out singles by Minaker, Taylor and John Hester brought the Cardinal a first inning run.
In the fourth, Taylor drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on a Romero wild pitch before scoring on a clutch two-out RBI single by Lewis.
Seawell's fifth inning leadoff shot down the left field line increased the Cardinal lead to 3-0.
Fresno State put its first run on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth when pinch-hitter Jared Halpert doubled off the glove of a leaping Rapoport in center field with one out, moved to third on a Adam O'Daniel groundout and scored on a two-out RBI single from Wetzel.
Stanford got the run right back in the top of the sixth when Brent Milleville doubled with one out and scored on a two-out RBI single by Cord Phelps.
A two-out rally by Fresno State in the bottom of the sixth got the Bulldogs three runs and evened the score at 4-4. Stanford starter Matt Manship (5.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO) retired the first two batters in the inning but was replaced by Sean Ratliff (0.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB) after issuing a two-out walk to Mills. Ratliff loaded the bases by walking Vitters and giving up a single to Lapin before he was removed in favor of Nolan Gallagher (1.1 IP, 3 H, 2 SO). Gallagher allowed all three inherited runners to score by giving up an RBI infield single to pinch-hitter Ozzie Lewis and a two-run single to Overland that tied the game before finally striking out Wetzel to end the uprising.
Stanford and Fresno State will conclude the three-game series that opens a 10-game road trip for the Cardinal on Sunday (1:05 pm, PT). Fresno State is scheduled to start RHP Andy Underwood (2-1, 1.99) on the mound, while the Cardinal has not announced a starting pitcher for the contest.