May 20, 2006
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Los Angeles, Calif. - Stanford (29-22, 11-12 Pac-10) evened its series at UCLA (29-22, 11-9 Pac-10) and won for the eighth time in the last nine games with a 6-2 victory over the Bruins on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Jackie Robinson Stadium. Nolan Gallagher (4-3) pitched his first career complete game and struck out a career-high seven to earn the victory, allowing just two runs (one earned) and scattering seven hits with just one walk. Chris Minaker, Michael Taylor and Chris Lewis all went deep as the three homers tied Stanford's season-high with Minaker also driving in three runs. Lewis (2-4, HR, RBI) and John Hester (2-4, SB) had two hits each, while eight of Stanford's nine starters collected at least one.
"This was a big win for us," said Stanford head coach Mark Marquess. "Nolan Gallagher came up with a tremendous pitching performance in a huge game, and we had three guys that have led us all year offensively do it again."
Gallagher was in control for nearly the entire contest, allowing just an unearned run in the first inning and one more in the fifth. He got nine of the 10 batters he faced from a one-out double by Josh Roenicke in the second to a one-out double from Brandon Crawford in the sixth with only Hector Ambriz reaching on a two-out error by Cardinal first baseman Brent Milleville during the period. After Crawford came home to score in the fifth on an RBI single from Chris Jensen, Gallagher allowed only one hit and one walk the rest of the way while facing only one batter over the minimum as an eighth inning double play erased pinch-hitter Tim Stewart after he had drawn Gallagher's only walk of the contest with one out in the frame.
"This was a big win for us because it gives us a chance to win the series tomorrow," commented Gallagher, who made his first career Pac-10 start. "It's that momentum and confidence that's driving us right now. I tried to be a leader and put some guys on my back, but the team kept picking me up, too. They're playing for me, so I wanted to play for them."
"Nolan did an incredible job today," added Minaker. "He really attacked their hitters and pitched with no fear. His stuff was great, his attitude was awesome and he really dominated from start to finish."
UCLA scored an unearned run off Gallagher in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead that would be their only advantage of the game. Jermaine Curtis started the rally with a one-out single and Jensen followed with a double that Taylor failed to pick up cleanly in rightcenter field, allowing Curtis to come all the way around to score.
Stanford tallied three times in the top of the fourth to take a 3-1 lead. Minaker gave the Cardinal a 2-1 advantage with one swing of the bat when he launched a long two-run homer near the top of the light standard beyond the left field wall for his 11th big fly of the season that also scored Hester, who had singled to lead off the inning. The rally started again when Lewis reached on an error by Curtis at third base and Randy Molina eventually brought him home with a clutch two-out RBI single two batters later.
Stanford added two more runs in the fifth to increase its advantage to 5-1. Ryan Seawell started the rally with a leadoff double before moving to third on Hester's sacrifice bunt and scoring on an RBI groundout from Minaker with the UCLA infield playing back. Taylor then blasted a two-out solo shot to straight away center field for his third long ball of the campaign and second in as many series.
UCLA got one run back in the fifth but Gallagher avoided further damage when he struck out Ambriz and got Brett McMillan to groundout to a diving Milleville after UCLA already had one run in and runners on second and third with just one out. The Bruins had scored earlier in the inning when Crawford doubled with one out, moved to third on a single by Curtis and scored on Jensen's RBI single.
Lewis made the final score 6-2 with a high fly ball down the left field line that drifted over the left field wall with one out in the eighth.
Curtis (3-4) and Jensen (2-4, 2B, RBI) picked up five of UCLA's seven hits.
UCLA starter Dave Huff (6-3) took the loss, giving up five runs (four earned) on eight hits and a walk while striking out six.
Stanford and UCLA conclude the series with a rubber game on Sunday (1 pm, PT). UCLA is scheduled to RHP Tyson Brummett (6-6, 4.43), while LHP Jeremy Bleich (4-4, 3.45) is slated to go on the hill for the Cardinal.