March 4, 2012
FRESNO, Calif.-- Lonnie Kauppila picked up two key RBI singles as No. 1-ranked Stanford (10-1) took the series at Fresno State (5-7), following a 9-2 win on Sunday.
Kauppila drove in runs in two separate four-run innings, with an RBI single in the four-run first and as the first insurance run with a two-out single in the sixth. Kauppila's 2-for-4 day was one of five multi-hit games for the Cardinal.
The two rallies were enough for freshman John Hochstatter (3-0) to pick up his third victory after 5.1 innings.
Leading 5-1, the Cardinal got into trouble in the sixth with the Bulldogs loading the bases on a bunt single against reliever Dean McArdle. McArdle got Friday's hero Chris Mariscal to strike out, forced a run in with a walk and then struck out pinch hitter Justin Charles to keep it at 5-2.
FSU had already scored one off of Hochstatter with an RBI double, the first run by the Bulldogs since Friday.
Stanford added insurance runs in the seventh, scoring four times to lead 9-2. Kauppila's single was followed by an RBI double from Austin Wilson and a two-run single by Eric Smith.
Hochstatter went the first 5.1 innings, giving up two runs on six hits. The freshman retired the first eight Bulldogs he faced, did not give up his first hit until the fourth or his first runs until the sixth.
Tom Harlan (1-2) countered with 6.2 innings, giving up the first seven runs.
The Cardinal opened up the game with four runs on five hits to lead 4-0 in the first. With one out, three-straight hits made it 3-0, paced by a run-scoring infield single by Brian Ragira, an RBI double from Kenny Diekroeger and an RBI single from Kauppila. A fielder's choice finished the rally and made it 4-0.
NOTES: Fresno State had not scored for 16-straight innings after Mariscal's double made it 7-4 on Friday until the sixth inning on Sunday... Dean McArdle pitched 2.2 shutout innings on Sunday and has allowed just one run over his last four appearances and 10.0 innings... Tyler Gaffney made a nice diving catch towards the left field line, robbing Daniel Moultrie of a base hit... Fresno State won the opener 7-4 and Stanford won game two 16-0... the Cardinal travels to Saint Mary's for a game on Tuesday at 2 p.m., before hosting top-five Rice next weekend.