May 18, 2012
SALT LAKE CITY-- Mark Appel (9-1) pitched a four-hitter, striking out 13 as No. 12-ranked Stanford (34-14, 15-10 Pac-12 defeated host Utah (14-36, 7-21 Pac-12) 6-0 on Friday night.
Appel retired 12 in a row until in the middle innings-- five by strikeout, until back-to-back singles in the sixth. Appel twice struck out the side after giving up hits, in the second and sixth innings.
Brock Duke (2-6) went the first 6.0 innings for the Utes, giving up four runs on six hits.
Eric Smith's two-run single in the fourth gave Stanford a 2-0 lead early. Two RBI groundouts then doubled the lead through six.
An RBI groundout by Stephen Piscotty gave the Cardinal a 3-0 lead in the fifth, while another RBI groundout, this time by Kenny Diekroeger made it 4-0 in the sixth.
Two sacrifice flies added to the lead in the seventh, by Austin Wilson, and ninth, by Alex Blandino, to make it 6-0.
NOTES: Appel hit double digit strikeouts for the second-straight week for the second time this season... it was his fourth complete game of the season... earlier today, Appel was named a Howser Trophy Semifinalist for the nation's top player... Saturday's game is at 3 p.m. PT and Sunday at 11:30 a.m. PT.