March 27, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
STANFORD CARDINAL (4-10, 1-2) vs. WASHINGTON HUSKIES (8-11, 0-0)
Friday, March 27 5:30 p.m. Klein Field at Sunken Diamond (Stanford, CA)
RHP Jeffrey Inman (0-3, 7.29) vs. RHP Brian Pearl (0-1, 1.12)
Saturday, March 28 1:00 p.m. Klein Field at Sunken Diamond (Stanford, CA)
RHP Jordan Pries (2-0, 3.66) vs. LHP Ben Guidos (1-1, 2.76)
Sunday, March 29 1:00 p.m. Klein Field at Sunken Diamond (Stanford, CA)
Both teams are undecided
All times Pacific; every game is broadcast on KZSU (90.1 FM) and gostanford.com
Stanford Plays Host to Washington in First Home Pac-10 Series
After opening its 2009 Pac-10 schedule on the road last weekend, the Stanford Cardinal (5-10, 1-2 Pac-10) will host the Washington Huskies (9-12, 0-0) in a conference set this Friday-Sunday at Klein Field at Sunken Diamond. Friday night's contest is set for a 5:30 p.m. PT first pitch, while Saturday and Sunday will both start at 1:00 p.m. PT.
Stanford has split its first four games following its 12-day layoff for winter quarter finals, dropping two of three at California before rebounding with a 5-2 victory Wednesday afternoon at UC Davis. Washington has won three of its last four games contests following a five-game losing streak, while the Huskies split a two-game mid-weeks series against No. 10 UC Irvine.
Immediately following this three-game series, Stanford will travel to Stockton for a Monday, March 30 contest at Pacific.
Broadcast Information
All 56 of Stanford's regular season games, and any postseason contests, will be carried live on the home of Cardinal baseball for nearly 51 years - student station KZSU 90.1 FM. The KZSU broadcast is available on the internet either at www.kzsulive.stanford.edu or via a link on www.gostanford.com.
Carlo Salcedo will be behind the mic for KZSU for this weekend's series.
"Nine" Tied for Ninth
With Stanford's 5-2 victory Wednesday at UC Davis, Cardinal head coach Mark Marquess posted his 1,331st career win to match Larry Cochell for the ninth-most ever by an NCAA Division I head baseball coach.
Marquess, who took over the reins of his alma mater prior to the 1977 season, has compiled a 1,331-679-7 (.662) record during his 33 campaigns as Stanford's head coach. Cochell logged a 1,331-813-3 (.621) ledger over 39 years with Emporia State (1967-69), Creighton (1970-71), Cal State Los Angeles (1972-76), Oral Roberts (1977-86), Northwestern (1987), Cal State Fullerton (1988-90) and Oklahoma (1991-2005). Next on the list is Rod Dedeaux, who ranks eighth in NCAA Division I history with 1,342 victories over 44 seasons at USC (1942-47 and 1949-86).
Stanford-Washington Series
Stanford has won each of the last four Pac-10 sets against Washington, and owns a 41-13 edge in a series that dates back to 1965. The Cardinal won two of three games last May 23-25 in Seattle, with the Huskies winning the series finale to avoid a sweep.
Stanford and Washington last met on The Farm in 2007, with the Cardinal winning the series' final two contests after dropping the opener.
Cardinal Clips
Stanford Entering Meat of Schedule
After playing just five games over the first 20 days in March due to winter quarter finals, Stanford will play eight contests over the final 11 days in the month. The Cardinal will then play 20 games in April and 17 contests in May.
Series Scoop
Despite dropping three of its first four weekend series in 2009, Stanford is still 14-5 in its last 19 weekend sets - a stretch which dates back to the final month of the 2006 season. The Cardinal has been in a position to reverse the 1-3 mark this season, but is just 1-2 in rubber games.
Stanford is 8-3 in Pac-10 sets over the stretch, including a 6-2 mark in 2008. However, after winning its first five conference series last year, the Cardinal dropped two of three last weekend at Cal.
Pries Making a Name
Freshman right-hander Jordan Pries has pitched in three of Stanford's first five wins (two starts, one relief outing), while he is personally 2-0 with a 3.66 ERA (8er, 19.2ip). The Alameda, CA native leads the Pac-10 with a miniscule .134 opponents' batting average, yielding just nine hits in 67 at-bats.
Pries earned Pac-10 Pitcher of the Week honors for March 2-8 following his first career start, a 7.1-inning gem in a March 7 victory over No. 2 Texas. The collegiate rookie was sensational against the Longhorns, carrying a shutout into the eighth inning and departing after allowing only three hits - a double and two singles. He walked two and struck out four, while he handed Texas its first loss of the season after the Longhorns had opened a perfect 11-0.
Pries followed with another riveting performance in his initial Pac-10 start last Sunday at Cal, as he took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before tiring. While he received a no-decision, Stanford outlasted Cal 6-5 in 12 innings, as the Cardinal has now won both of his starts.
In his first two career starts, Pries is personally 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA (4er, 12.2ip) and a .095 opponents' batting average (4-for-42).
Power From the Northwest
Sophomore right fielder Kellen Kiilsgaard has been on fire as of late, hitting at a .342 clip (13-for-38) with four doubles, four home runs, 12 RBI and a .763 slugging percentage over his last 10 games (since Feb. 28). In the four games since Stanford returned from its finals break last Saturday, Kiilsgaard is 7-for-16 (.438) with three doubles, two home runs, seven RBI and five walks.
After getting only three at-bats as a true freshman in 2008, Kiilsgaard is tied for second in the Pac-10 with an overall .739 slugging percentage and tied for sixth with five home runs. He is also batting .326 overall (15-for-46), has 13 RBI and owns a .426 on-base mark.
Kiilsgaard had the best day of his young career to lift the Cardinal to a 6-5, 12-inning win last Sunday at California. With Stanford trailing 4-3 in the ninth, he led off the top of the inning with an opposite-field home run to tie the game 4-4, then hammered a mammoth solo shot leading off the 11th that gave the Cardinal a 5-4 lead. With the game tied again, he drew a two-out, bases loaded walk in the 12th to push Stanford ahead for good at 6-5. Kiilsgaard also delivered a two-out, RBI-double in the fifth that gave Stanford a 2-0 lead. All told, he reached base safely six times during his first collegiate multi-homer game, going 3-for-4 with three walks and four RBI to set a career high in each category.
Kiilsgaard, a two-sport star at Auburn (Wash.) High School, was a redshirt freshman on Stanford's 2007 football squad, but gave up the gridiron to concentrate solely on baseball.
Swing and a Miss
Sophomore RHP Drew Storen has continued to demonstrate the electric stuff that made him a freshman All-American in 2008, as he has compiled 14 strikeouts in just 8.1 innings of work - an average of 15.12 punchouts per 9.0 innings. Storen has allowed just one walk thus far in 2009, while forging a 2.16 ERA (2er, 8.1ip) in six relief appearances.
For his career, Storen has 64 strikeouts against just 16 walks in 64.2 innings pitched.
Kaskow Heating Up
Sophomore first baseman/designated hitter Jonathan Kaskow has hit safely in eight of his last 12 games, going 11-for-36 (.305) with two doubles, two home runs and eight RBI. He has started at first base for each of the last five games, while he drove in five runs in three contests at California.
Mr. Consistency
Throughout his four years on The Farm, senior outfielder Joey August has been a picture of consistency at the plate. Stanford's active leader in batting average and hits, he enters the weekend series vs. Washington with a career .314 average (166-for-528) in 158 games (119 starts). He is also a lifetime .338 hitter (66-for-195) in 51 career Pac-10 contests.
August has really begun to heat up lately, as he is 7-for-20 (.350) with five runs scored, two doubles and four walks during his current five-game hitting streak.
Setting the Table
Sophomore infielder Colin Walsh has been Stanford's leadoff hitter for each of the past six games, and has posted a .467 on-base percentage in those contests. While he only has five hits in 21 at-bats (.238), Walsh has drawn eight walks and has been hit by a pitch. Walsh has scored four runs during the span, with a pair of stolen bases.
Walsh has hit safely in 14 of his last 19 starts dating back to 2008, going 22-for-70 (.314) with 15 runs scored, five doubles, nine RBI and 15 walks.
Gaylord Getting it Done
Junior infielder Adam Gaylord has hit safely in five of the seven games he has had an at-bat, going 6-for-19 (.316) with a double and four RBI. He has started six contests (four at third base and two at second), and already has five more hits than he did in 2008 (one, in only 15 at-bats). Gaylord's two-out, RBI-single in the fifth inning Monday at Cal gave Stanford a short-lived, 4-3 lead.
From Walk-on to Winning Pitcher
Sophomore reliever Carey Schwartz, who attended Palo Alto High School and wished to someday play at Stanford, was a huge success story in 2008 by making the club as a walk-on. The story has become even better in 2009, as he has fashioned a 2.45 ERA (2er, 7.1ip) while tying for the team lead with six appearances. The side-arming reliever has been huge in clutch situations, stranding eight of his nine inherited runners (88.9%).
Schwartz earned his first career victory Sunday against, fittingly enough, California. He entered in the bottom of the 11th to face Bears cleanup hitter Mark Canha with runners at the corners, none out and Stanford clinging to a 5-4 lead. Although he yielded a game-tying sacrifice fly to Canha, he escaped further damage and recorded the first out of the 12th after the Cardinal had forged back ahead 6-5.
Bullish Out of the `Pen
Senior right-hander Max Fearnow has been very impressive since moving to the Stanford bullpen, tossing 6.0-scoreless innings over three relief outings. He has allowed just three hits in 20 at-bats (.150), with one walk and four strikeouts.
Fearnow earned the win Wednesday at UC Davis with 3.0-innings of two-hit, shutout relief. After allowing a pair of singles in his first inning, he retired the final seven batters he faced as Stanford scored five runs.
Marshall-ing in Zeroes
Sophomore right-hander Michael Marshall has been unscored upon in three of his four appearances in March, while allowing just one earned run in 6.1 innings of work (1.42 ERA). He has allowed only three hits in 21 at-bats (.143), with six strikeouts and no walks.
Marshall was excellent in Stanford's 6-5, 12-inning win Sunday at California, setting career highs with 4.0 innings pitched and five strikeouts. He entered to begin the seventh inning with the Cardinal trailing 4-3, and proceeded to retire his first nine batters faced while blanking the Bears through the 11th.
Back for More
Stanford's 35-man roster includes 17 returning letterwinners from its 2008 College World Series club, a total that includes six starting position players, three starting pitchers and its closer.
The Cardinal has retained the services of the following starting position players: OF Joey August (Sr.), OF Toby Gerhart (Jr.), 3B Zach Jones (So.), 1B Brent Milleville (Sr.), SS Jake Schlander (So.) and OF Jeff Whitlow (Sr.). Please note that Gerhart and Whitlow spent a majority of last season in a platoon role.
RHP Max Fearnow (Sr.), RHP Jeffrey Inman (Jr.) and RHP Danny Sandbrink (So.) all saw significant time in the 2008 rotation, while closer Drew Storen (RHP - So). is back after a freshman All-America campaign.
A New Guard
On the flip side, 148 of Stanford's 504 at-bats have been taken by players who had fewer than 20 at-bats in 2008: Mike Garza (5 in 2009, high school in 2008); Adam Gaylord (19 in `09, 15 in `08); Christian Griffiths (13 in `09, HS in `08); J.J. Jelmini (3 in `09, 3 in `08); Jonathan Kaskow (39 in `09, 5 in `08); Kellen Kiilsgaard (46 in `09, 3 in `08); Kellen McColl (3 in `09, 0 in `08); Min (Brian) Moon (7 in `09, 0 in `08) and Wande Olabisi (13 in `09, 4 in `08).
Likewise, 63.0 of the Cardinal's 134.0 innings pitched have been handled by players who threw less than 20.0 frames in 2008: Brian Busick (2.0 in 2009, high school in 2008); Brett Mooneyham (12.1 in `09, HS in `08); Jordan Pries (19.2 in `09, HS in `08); Chris Reed (1.1 in `09, HS in `08); Carey Schwartz (7.1 in `09, 3.1 in `08); Scott Snodgress (9.0 in `09, HS in `08); Kyle Thompson (2.2 in `09, 0.0 in `08) and Brandt Walker (8.2 in `09, 6.0 in `08).
Debuts and Milestones
Junior infielder Min (Brian) Moon hammered his first collegiate home run Wednesday at UC Davis, breaking a scoreless tie and propelling Stanford to the 5-2 win with his solo shot.
Moon became just the latest in a bevy of Cardinal players to enjoy individual firsts over the first 15 games of the 2009 season. Sophomore OF Kellen Kiilsgaard and sophomore 1B/DH Jonathan Kaskow have both delivered their first career home runs and RBI, while sophomore OF Kellen McColl and junior OF Wande Olabisi also collected their initial RBI. On the mound, sophomore RHP Carey Schwartz has earned his first career win.
The following eight Stanford freshmen have seen their first collegiate action thus far: RHP Brian Busick, IF/RHP Mike Garza, C/OF Christian Griffiths, LHP Brett Mooneyham, RHP Jordan Pries, LHP Chris Reed and LHP Scott Snodgress. Griffiths has recorded his first career hit, while Pries has earned a pair of wins and Snodgress logged his inital save.
Inman Named to Golden Spikes Award Watch List; Third-Team All-America
Junior right-handed pitcher Jeffrey Inman has been named by USA Baseball as one of 50 players on the preseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List, while he is also a preseason third-team All-America selection by Baseball America.
Sponsored by Major League Baseball, the Golden Spikes Award is in its 32nd season honoring the top player in college baseball. The list will be paired down to 30 on May 26 and again to five finalists on June 2, while the winner will be announced in a July 15 awards show as part of MLB All-Star festivities in St. Louis.
Inman played a key role in Stanford's run to the 2008 College World Series, going 7-2 with a 4.27 ERA (34er, 71.2ip) in 16 games (13 starts) as a sophomore. He showed why he is considered among the nation's top pitchers during a stellar seven-outing, six-start stretch in March and April in which he went 5-0 with a 1.49 ERA (6er, 36.1ip). His final start of the season came at the College World Series, when he allowed just two runs and struck out five over 5.1 innings against eventual finalist Georgia. For the season, Inman held right-handed batters to a .246 average (35-for-142).
Inman followed his sophomore collegiate campaign by striking out 34 batters in just 31.1 innings for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox, and was tabbed by Baseball America as the ninth-best prospect in the 2008 Cape Cod League.
Storen Named to NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List
Stanford sophomore right-hander Drew Storen is one of 40 players selected to the initial watch list for the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award. The award is in its fifth season, and honors the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball.
Storen emerged as one of college baseball's premier closers during a stellar freshman campaign in 2008, going 5-3 with eight saves and a 3.51 ERA (22er, 56.1ip) in a club-high 31 relief outings. He was a first-team freshman All-America selection by Collegiate Baseball/Louisville Slugger, while he earned second-team honors from Rivals.com and third-team accolades from Ping!Baseball. The first-team All-Pac-10 performer was fourth in the league for saves (second among freshmen), while he tied for the seventh-highest single-season save total in Stanford history.
Storen logged a 3.3:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio during his rookie collegiate season, fanning 50 batters against only 15 walks. He also held opposing batters to a .257 average (53-for-206), including a paltry .229 mark to right-handed hitters (25-for-109).
Following Stanford's 2008 season, Storen served as the closer for the Cotuit Kettleers in the prestigious Cape Cod League. He posted five saves, a 2.76 ERA (5er, 16.1ip) and .200 average against (12-for-60) in 13 relief appearances, with 15 strikeouts against five walks.
Iron Man
Sophomore Jake Schlander has started at shortstop for each of Stanford's 83 games during his collegiate career. In 2008, he became the first Stanford freshman to start every game at shortstop since games played became an officially kept statistic in 1960. The Scottsdale, Ariz. native was the first Cardinal rookie to start each contest at any position since current San Diego Padres outfielder Jody Gerut did so in 1996.
One of the nation's premier defensive shortstops, Schlander owns a career .969 fielding percentage (10 errors, 327 total chances).
From the Gridiron to the Diamond
Junior outfielder Toby Gerhart is the latest in a proud Stanford tradition of two-sport athletes. During the 2008 football season, the running back established Stanford's single-season rushing record with 1,136 yards. The bruising runner averaged 5.4 yards per carry (210 attempts), while scoring 15 rushing touchdowns - good for second in school history.
Professional Lineage
Stanford has eight players on its 35-man roster that has had a parent or grandparent play professional sports:
Joey August (father, Bill, was a quarterback with the NFL's San Francisco 49ers in 1975, but did not play in a game); Toby Gerhart (father, Todd, played in the USFL with the Denver Gold in 1985-86 and went to NFL training camp with the Minnesota Vikings in 1986 and Houston Oilers in 1987); Jonathan Kaskow (father, Chris, played men's doubles tennis at Wimbledon in 1977); Kellen Kiilsgaard (grandfather, Carl, played for the NFL's Chicago Cardinals in 1950); Michael Marshall (father, Mike, was a two-time World Series champion and played 11 MLB seasons from 1981-91 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets and Boston Red Sox); Kellen McColl (father, Milt was a two-time Super Bowl champion during an eight-year NFL career with the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Raiders from 1981-88; grandfather, Bill, played for the NFL's Chicago Bears from 1952-59; uncle, Duncan, was drafted by the NFL's Washington Redskins in 1977); Brett Mooneyham (father, Bill, pitched for the Oakland Athletics in 1986) and Jordan Pries (grandfather, Bud Daley, was a two-time World Series winner during a 10-year MLB career with the Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Athletics and New York Yankees from 1955-64).
A Look at the Schedule
Long a staple under head coach Mark Marquess, Stanford is once again playing a tough schedule in 2009. The Cardinal will play a total of 25 games against nine clubs that advanced to the 2008 NCAA Tournament: Arizona (3 games), Arizona State (3), California (5), Cal State Fullerton (3), San Diego (1), Texas (3), UC Davis (2), UCLA (3) and Vanderbilt (2).
Stanford Among the All-Time Best
Currently in its 116th season of college baseball, Stanford has posted the fifth-most wins of any NCAA Division I program with a 2,564-1,612-34 (.613) all-time record. That ledger includes 128 NCAA Tournament wins over 28 appearances, tied for the sixth-most all-time.
Leading the Pac
Since the Pac-10 disbanded the two-division system and realigned prior to the 1999 season, Stanford leads all conference teams with 436 wins, four league titles and six trips to the College World Series.
Cardinal Consistency
After going 41-24-2 in 2008, Stanford has finished at least .500 in 15 straight seasons, and in 31 of 32 campaigns under head coach Mark Marquess.
The Cardinal has also advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 25 of the last 28 years (since 1982), while advancing to the College World Series 14 times over that span. By virtue of that success, players on 28 of the last 30 four-year graduating classes at Stanford have played in Omaha.
Stanford at the Plate
Stanford on the Mound
Stanford with the Gloves