Feb. 2, 2007
Complete Recap in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Fullerton, Calif. - Stanford (0-1) dropped its 2007 season opener to No. 14 Cal State Fullerton (1-0) by an 11-5 score on a chilly Friday evening at Goodwin Field. The Titans jumped out to an 11-0 lead after four innings as John Curtis (2-4, 2B, 4 RBI), Clark Hardman (2-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBI) and Joel Weeks (2-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI) combined to drive in eight runs with Hardman and Weeks also scoring three times each. Joe Scott (3-4, RBI) had the only three-hit game for either squad. Wes Roemer (1-0) earned the victory by striking out eight in 6.0 solid innings of work, allowing just five hits and three runs. Michael Morrison (3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO) picked up the save by finishing out the contest.
Austin Yount (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI) and Sean Ratliff (2-5, RBI) had two-hit games for the Cardinal and drove in three of the team's five runs.Stanford starter Nolan Gallagher (0-1) took the loss, allowing seven runs (six earned) on eight hits before being taken out after three innings of work.
Cal State Fullerton started the scoring with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning. Gallagher hit Hardman with a pitch to lead off the frame and the Titans were in business with runners on first and second and no outs after the next play when Weeks sacrificed Hardman to second and also reached when Yount was charged with an error by failing to touch first base on the play. Jake Vasquez then singled to load the bases before back-to-back RBI groundouts from Curtis and Jones brought home Hardman and Weeks.
The Titans added four more runs in the third to take a 6-0 advantage. The rally started once again on a hit batsmen when Gallagher plunked Fellhauer with one out before three consecutive hits plated the Titans three runs. Joe Scott put runners on first and second with a single before a double by Hardman brought home Fellhauer with the first run of the inning. Weeks then plated Scott and Hardman with a two-run double just inside the left field line and Curtis capped the rally two batters later with an RBI single to score Weeks.
Cal State Fullerton got one more run in the third on three singles. Jon Wilhite singled up the middle to start the inning but was hit on the basepaths by a Fellhauer line drive single. Fellhauer advanced to second on a wild pitch before scoring on a two-out single through the left side from Scott.
The Titans made it 11-0 by scoring their final four runs in the fourth. Hardman hit the second collegiate pitch thrown by reliever Cory Bannister deep over the right field wall to lead off the inning. Bannister would face three more Titan hitters without recording an out. Weeks restarted the rally with a double. Bannister then hit Vasquez with a pitch and allowed a two-RBI double to Curtis before being relieved by Brandt Walker, who got a pair of outs before allowing a two-out RBI single to Evan McArthur to cap the rally.
Walker (3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 SO), Tom Stilson (1.0 IP, 1 SO) and Blake Hancock (1.0 IP, 2 SO) would hold the Titans scoreless the rest of the way to allow Stanford to being chipping into the 11-run deficit.
Stanford scored its first three runs in the fifth inning. Brian Juhl's leadoff single started the rally and was only the second hit off Roemer to the point. Phelps and Gaylord also followed with singles to load the bases with no outs. Juhl scored on a fielder's choice by Sean Ratliff before Yount crushed a two-RBI double over Hardman's head in straight away center field.
Stanford added the final two runs of the game in the ninth. Pinch-hitter J.J. Jelmini was hit by a pitch to start the rally but was retired on Ratliff's fielder's choice. Yount singled to center field to put runners on first and second before Ratliff came around to score when Scott threw the ball into the Cardinal dugout on the back end of a potential game-ending double play hit by Michael Taylor. Pinch-hitter Joey August then singled home Taylor before Morrison retired Grant Escue for the final out.
The loss ended Stanford's four-game win streak against the Titans dating back to 2005.
The teams will continue the series on Saturday (6 pm, PT) and Sunday (1 pm, PT). Stanford freshman RHP Jeff Inman will make his collegiate debut for the Cardinal on the mound Saturday, while the Titans are schedule to counter with junior college transfer RHP Jeff Kaplan in his first Cal State Fullerton action. Sunday is scheduled to pit Stanford LHP Jeremy Bleich against Cal State Fullerton RHP Sean Urena.