May 8, 2009
Complete Release and Box Score in PDF Format
STANFORD, Calif. - Ryan Honeycutt drove in a pair of runs, Rafael Neda went 3-for-3 and Will Kerr tossed 5.0-innings of shutout relief as visiting New Mexico (33-16) defeated Stanford (23-21) by the score of 5-1 in the opener of a three-game, non-conference series at Klein Field at Sunken Diamond. Tonight's game was just the second meeting ever between the Cardinal and the Lobos, and the first since March 30, 1972.
Kerr (1-0), a senior right-hander, came on to start the fifth in a 4-1 game and blanked Stanford on three hits over the final five innings to earn his first win of the season. He hit one batter and walked two, but yielded just a leadoff single by Zach Jones in the sixth and consecutive, one-out singles in the ninth.
Stanford's second batter of the game, Joey August, hammered a solo home run to give the Cardinal a quick 1-0 lead. However, that would be the only run Stanford would score off New Mexico starter John Hesketh, who danced in and out of trouble over his four innings of work. The Cardinal left the bases loaded in both the second and third innings off the Lobos' southpaw, including after putting three runners on with only one out in the second. Stanford stranded 12 runners overall on the night.
Brent Milleville continued his torrid hitting with a 2-for-3 effort, while Colin Walsh reached base safely for the 27th straight game by drawing a pair of walks. Jones also reached base safely three times, going 2-for-3 with a walk.
Cardinal starter Jordan Pries (3-3) pitched into the seventh inning for the fifth time in nine starts, but was dealt his third straight loss. The freshman right-hander pitched effectively at times, but was hurt by two walks that came around to score and an unearned run in the seventh. All told, Pries allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits over 6.1 innings.
New Mexico, which came into the game leading all NCAA Division I teams with a .368 team batting average, also played small ball tonight. The Lobos laid down five sacrifice bunts - three by Max Willett and two by Kevin Atkinson - all of which led to runs. Justin Howard and Adam Courcha each went 2-for-4 with an RBI for the visitors.
Stanford and New Mexico will meet Saturday afternoon in the second of this three-game series, with Cardinal freshman left-hander Brett Mooneyham (4-2, 5.00) opposing Lobos' rookie southpaw Rudy Jaramillo (3-0, 3.86). First pitch from Klein Field at Sunken Diamond is set for 1:00 p.m. PT.