March 25, 2007
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Nolan Gallagher pitched the first complete game shutout of his career with a four-hitter to lift Stanford (12-9) to a 10-0 victory over Sacramento State (9-16) at Hornet Field on Sunday. The victory helped Stanford earn a split of a two-game home-and-home non-conference series between the clubs after the Hornets had shut the Cardinal out at Sunken Diamond on Saturday, 6-0. Gallagher, who struck out seven and did not walk a batter, also tossed the first complete game by a Stanford pitcher this season. Adam Gaylord (3-4), Adam Sorgi (2-5, 3 RBI), Grant Escue (2-5, 2 RBI), Sean Ratliff (2-4, RBI, SB) and Michael Taylor (2-4, RBI) all had multiple-hit games for a Stanford offense that totaled 13 hits, all of which were singles.
"I just tried to simplify everything and go back to the basics," said Gallagher, who improved to 2-2 after winning just once in his first six starts prior to Sunday's victory. "I wanted to get something going before Pac-10 play, and it was good to get this outing in. I was able to throw strikes and get ahead, and I had good command of my fastball today."
"Nolan Gallagher pitched very well today," said Stanford head coach Mark Marquess, who coached his 1900th career game at Stanford one day after his 60th birthday. "He was sharp in all facets of his outing."
Gallagher preserved his shutout in the ninth inning after pinch-hitter Jeff Hannah started the frame with a leadoff triple by retiring three more consecutive pinch-hitters to leave Hannah stranded at third base. He allowed only one other runner to reach as far as second base when Cummins led off the fourth with a single and moved to second base on a wild pitch before retiring 14 in a row.
Stanford scored three runs in the fourth to break open a scoreless tie before adding six more in the fifth on the strength of seven consecutive singles to take a commanding 9-0 lead after four and a half innings and one final run in the eighth.
Ratliff drew a leadoff walk to start Stanford's three-run fourth before stealing second and moving to third when Sacramento State catcher Travis Kirkman threw the ball into center field trying to catch Ratliff stealing at second. Ratliff then scored when Hornet second baseman Patrick Cummins tried to throw him out at the plate after fielding Sorgi's grounder but bounced his throw to Kirkman. Sorgi was credited with an RBI fielder's choice on the play. Escue accounted for the final two runs of the inning with a two-run single after a Taylor single and a sacrifice bunt from August put runners on second and third.
Grant Escue (2-5, 2 RBI) was one of five Stanford players with multiple-hit games in a 10-0 win at Sacramento State on Sunday |
Stanford's six-run fifth started with seven consecutive singles. Ryan Seawell, Gaylord and Ratliff loaded the bases with three straight singles to end a short outing for losing pitcher Trevor York (1-4), who allowed six runs on five hits and a walk with two strikeouts over 4.0 innings. Sorgi brought in the first two Cardinal runs of the frame when he greeted reliever Mel Cuckovich (0.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER) with a single through the right side of the infield. Taylor followed with an RBI single off the second Hornet reliever of the inning Billy Sinacori (0.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER) that plated Ratliff. Joey August then singled through the right side of the infield to bring in Sorgi and Taylor came around to score on the play on a throwing error by Montana Dye when the Hornet rightfielder bounced his throw by David Flores in an attempt to retire Taylor at third base. Escue singled to end Sinacori's outing and Brent Milleville brought in August with the final run of the frame two batters later on a sacrifice fly.
Stanford scored the final run of the game in the eighth inning when Cord Phelps walked, moved to second on a Gaylord single and scored when Ratliff singled through the right side.
"It's nice to rebound and play as well as we did today after yesterday's loss," commented Marquess.
"Yesterday's loss was tough and very disappointing," added Gallagher. "But today's performance shows the personality of this team. Hopefully, this will get us rolling into Tuesday's game at San Jose State and the Pac-10 season. It was important for us to come back from yesterday's loss with this win. We want to have some momentum and confidence going into next week."