May 13, 2012
STANFORD, Calif.-- Dominic Jose, in his second career start, hit a grand slam and No. 12-ranked Stanford (32-14, 14-10 Pac-12) swept Washington State (24-23, 9-14 Pac-12), following a 6-1 win on Sunday.
In a two-run game in the sixth, Washington State intentionally walked three-year starter Kenny Diekroeger to face the freshman, Jose, who had 12 career at-bats. After changing pitchers, and moving the switching hitting Jose to the right side of the plate, the Florida freshman hit his first career homer, to left, to make it 6-0.
Brett Mooneyham (6-4) pitched 7.0 shutout innings, scattering five hits for the win.
While Jose was flexing his muscles, rightfielder Austin Wilson was making some nice defensive plays.
In the first, Wilson threw out Nate Blackham at the plate on a base hit to right, making the accurate throw, despite bobbling the ball, first.
The Cardinal rightfielder then robbed two hits away from the Cougars in the sixth. In back-to-back efforts, the 6'5” sophomore ran into the wall, catching a ball at the warning track off the bat of Adam Nelubowich, before taking a breath-- all of three pitches, to steal a hit away from Tommy Richards on a ball headed for the gap between right and center. Jose's homer then made it 6-0 in the bottom of the inning.
Stanford led 2-0 after five innings.
An RBI single by Eric Smith made it 1-0, as WSU starter Kyle Swannack (3-4) breathed a sigh of relief after Jake Stewart just missed his own grand slam in the second, as his ball was tracked down at the warning track.
Danny Diekroeger added to the lead in the fifth with an RBI single to make it 2-0.
NOTES: Stephen Piscotty made his own diving effort on a ball down the left field line in the eigthth... Jose made his first start of the season on Saturday... the Cardinal host the University of San Francisco on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., prior to a road trip to the University of Utah next Friday-Sunday.