April 1, 2011
PULLMAN, Wash.-- Derek Jones hit a game-winning, three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth, capping an eight-run rally, leading Washington State (11-10, 1-3 Pac-10) to a 10-8 come from behind victory over No. 11-ranked Stanford (11-7, 0-1 Pac-10) on Friday evening.
The eight-run eighth erased an 8-2 lead by the Cardinal and a strong outing by Mark Appel.
Relievers A.J. Vanegas and Scott Snodgress (2-2) allowed WSU back in the game, making it 8-7 before closer Chris Reed came on and gave up a three-run homer to Jones with runners on the corners. Wazzu sent 12 men to the plate in the inning, pushing across eight hits, and making a winner out of Kellen Camus (1-0). Camus pitched 2.2 scoreless innings, before Paris Shewey picked up his fifth save with a perfect ninth.
Zach Jones drove in four in the loss, including a three-run homer. Stephen Piscotty added two RBIs, giving Stanford a 1-0 lead in the first, before Jones' three-run home run, followed by a Piscotty RBI double made it 5-0 in a four-run fifth. Stanford added three runs in the sixth, erasing a once 1-0 pitcher's dual through the first four innings.
Appel allowed one hit through five scoreless innings, giving up two runs on five hits over the first 7.0 innings. He left with an 8-2 lead.
Jones, who has been struggling all season, took a 2-2 pitch over the left field wall for a three-run home run and 4-0 lead. The four-year starter came in batting .155, driving in his first run on Tuesday for his first multi-hit game. A Piscotty seeing-eye double, that rolled out into left, between third and short, scored Kenny Diekroeger from first and gave Stanford a 5-0 lead.
The Cardinal added to starter Adam Conley's misery in the sixth, as a Brian Ragira homer followed by RBI doubles by Jones and Ben Clowe made it 8-0, chasing Conley from the game. Conley, who came on with a 2.38 ERA, gave up eight runs on 11 hits over 5.1 innings. Five hits came in the sixth.
In a 1-0 game early, Appel stranded the tying run at third in the fourth with three strikeouts. He struck out the first two Cougars before giving up a triple and walk. A swinging strikeout of Trace Tam Swing kept the shutout intact through four.
NOTES: Saturday's game will be at 2 p.m and Sunday will be at noon... Stanford returns home on Tuesday to host San Jose State... Diekroeger continued his hit streak with a single in the first, now at 12 games... Stanford has won seven of the last 10 Pac-10 opening series... Wazzu was swept at Cal last weekend to open up Pac-10 play... former Cardinal great, John Mayberry, Jr., won the game for the Phillies with a pinch hit single, 5-4 in the bottom of the ninth. He is one of six former Cardinal in the Majors to start 2011.