April 24, 2010
STANFORD, Calif.-- Colin Walsh drove in five runs, including a two-run home run in the sixth as No. 22-ranked Stanford (20-13, 9-5 Pac-10) won its seventh straight and the series with No. 15-ranked California (23-13, 8-6 Pac-10), winning 15-12 on Saturday afternoon.
Tyler Gaffney went 4-for-6 with two RBIs and four runs, while Jonathan Kaskow and Kenny Diekroeger added three hits as Stanford had a season-high 15 runs and 19 hits. Six players had multi-hit games.
The Cardinal scored six times in the third and six more times in the fifth to lead 13-4 early. Cal scored five times over the last three innings before Mark Appel got the final three outs to clinch the series.
The team's first six-run inning, was off of three Cal errors as Stanford sent 11 men to the plate to lead 6-3. A two-run single by Diekroeger broke a 3-3 tie, before an RBI single by Zach Jones, the 10th man to bat, made it 6-3.
Stanford sent another 12 men to the plate in the fifth, to lead 13-4. Cal pitchers walked two runners in and Walsh delivered a two-run single.
Reigning Pac-10 Pitcher of the Week and Cal starter Justin Jones (8-3) gave up the first 10 runs over four-plus innings after entering with a 2.62 ERA.
Walsh delivered a two-run homer (5) to left in the sixth to make it 15-7. Cal rallied with a run in the seventh, three more in the eighth and another in the ninth, as Cal finished with 15 hits and Jimmy Bosco went 3-for-3 with two home runs.
Stanford starter Jordan Pries did not figure in the decision, giving up the first four runs over the first 3.2 innings. It was the righthander's third-straight no-decision, as he entered the contest with a 2.29 ERA over his last five starts. Dean McArdle (2-0) got the win in relief of Pries.
The series finale will be on Sunday at 1 p.m with Brian Busick (4-1, 3.13) throwing for the Cardinal against Cal's Dixon Anderson (3-1, 3.26).
NOTES: Shortstop Jake Schlander's throwing error in the third inning, was his first error since March 21, a span of eight games... the 3.2 innings by Pries was the shortest outing by the righthander since April 24, 2009 against Arizona (4.2), a span of 12 starts he has thrown at least five innings... Stanford also had 19 hits at Oregon State last weekend.