March 7, 2009
Complete Release and Box Score in PDF Format
STANFORD, Calif. - Freshman right-hander Jordan Pries stymied Texas over 7.1-excellent innings in his first collegiate start, and the offense came alive for host Stanford (3-7) in a 7-1 win over the second-ranked Longhorns (11-1) at Klein Field at Sunken Diamond. The victory snapped the Cardinal's six-game losing streak, and saddled Texas with its first defeat of the 2009 season.
Looking for a stopper, Stanford gave the ball to Pries (2-0), who had worked 7.0 innings over a pair of relief appearances. The freshman from Alameda, CA was masterful, carrying a shutout into the eighth inning and departing after allowing only three hits - a double and two singles. Pries walked two and struck out four, while he now owns collegiate wins over Southeastern Conference power Vanderbilt and Big 12 Conference stalwart Texas.
After struggling offensively during its losing streak, Stanford struck for seven runs in a game started by Texas right-hander Brandon Workman - who came into the game having not allowed a run in 16.0 innings over two starts.
Workman (2-1) extended his scoreless streak to 20.0 innings by matching zeroes with Pries until the fifth, when the speed of Stanford outfielder Wande Olabisi came into play. Making his first start of the season, Olabisi ripped a one-out double, moved to third when Colin Walsh's drive into the right-center gap was caught on a dive, and scored the game's first run on a wild pitch.
Stanford took its biggest lead of any game this season in the sixth, scoring three times for a 4-0 advantage. Sophomore first baseman Jonathan Kaskow led off the inning by belting his first collegiate home run well over the fence in right field. Two outs later, Mike Garza reached on a fielding error by Texas shortstop David Hernandez, and Olabisi followed with a walk. Walsh, who finished 2-for-5, greeted Longhorns reliever Keith Shinaberry with an RBI-single to center, and Zach Jones followed with a run-scoring single of his own.
Texas cut Stanford's lead to 4-1 with a run in the top of the eighth and threatened to do more damage with runners on first and second with one out, but Cardinal reliever Drew Storen induced fly outs from the Longhorns' three-four hitters to end the threat.
Stanford broke open the game by again playing long ball in the bottom of the eighth. Jeff Whitlow, who had entered as a pinch-runner the inning before, led off the frame with his first home run of the year. Two outs later, Jones hammered a two-run clout to finish the day 3-for-5 with three RBI.
The Cardinal and Longhorns will meet in the rubber game of this three-contest series tomorrow. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. from Klein Field at Sunken Diamond.
Jonathan Kaskow belted his first career home run in Stanford's 7-1 win over Texas |