May 26, 2006
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Stanford, Calif. - UC Davis (17-34) spoiled Senior Night at Sunken Diamond with a 3-0 victory over Stanford (30-24) in the opener of a two-game home-and-home series on Friday night. Michael Potter (5-3) tossed a three-hit complete game shutout, facing just three batters over the minimum, walking only one and striking out five while setting the Cardinal down in order in six of his nine frames. The Aggies scored two runs in the top of the first off Stanford starter Greg Reynolds (6-5), who took the loss despite pitching his fourth complete game in his last five outings. Reynolds allowed eight hits and three runs with nine strikeouts and a walk.
"Good pitchers can shut down good hitting, and he was really good tonight," said Stanford head coach Mark Marquess when asked about Potter's performance. "We weren't even close to scoring. He just did a great job and shut us down completely."
"Potter did a great job pitching tonight," added Chris Minaker. "He didn't make any mistakes. He just was aggressive, pitched well with his changeup, and we got ourselves out. To his credit, he stayed with his plan and it worked. He showed why he's beat good people this year."
Daniel Descalso (2-4, 2 2B) was the only player for either team with more than one hit in a game that lasted just two hours and seven minutes.
Jason Castro was able to extend his career-high hit streak to 12 games when he singled with two outs in his last at bat in the Cardinal eighth.
Descalso led off the game with a double to the leftcenter field gap off Reynolds and came around to score three batters later on an RBI single by Aaron Hanke, who batted with the bases loaded after Tyler LaTorre had walked and Lukas Kirby followed with a single to back up Descalso's leadoff double. The Aggies scored their second run of the opening frame two batters later when Jimmy Goetz' bases loaded RBI single through the left side of the infield plated LaTorre.
Reynolds would set the Aggies down in order in five of six innings from the third to the eighth but UC Davis was able to add an insurance run in the top of the sixth on a two-out RBI single by Kevin James that plated Michael Hernandez, who had singled with one out and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Goetz.
Stanford had only one serious threat the entire game when Ryan Seawell and John Hester led off the fourth with back-to-back singles but Minaker lined into a double play and Potter got Michael Taylor to fly out to right to end the inning.
Potter also gave the Cardinal a glimmer of hope when he walked Cord Phelps to lead off the bottom of the ninth but quickly recovered to get Seawell, Hester and Minaker on three consecutive fly outs to end the game.
The game was played in front of the largest crowd at Sunken Diamond this season with 3362 fans showing up to watch the contest, as well as a the postgame Town & Country Village Fireworks Show and a pregame ceremony honoring Stanford's four seniors John Hester, Chris Lewis, Matt Manship and Chris Minaker.
"The pregame ceremony was nice for our seniors," said Marquess. "They have been through a lot this year but have still provided great leadership."
Stanford and UC Davis conclude their 2006 regular seasons in Davis on Saturday (2 pm, PT). UC Davis is expected to start RHP Vince DeCoito (1-3, 6.44), while the Cardinal has not announced a probable starter on the mound.
"We just want to go out and win tomorrow, because our goal is to win every game we play," said Minaker. "No matter what the stakes are, we want to win."
The 16 Regional host sites for the 2006 NCAA Championship will be announced on Sunday, May 28, while the 64-team field will be revealed live on ESPN on Monday, May 29 (9:30 am, PT). Stanford has made 12 consecutive appearances (1994-2005) in the postseason.