May 25, 2012
STANFORD, Calif.-- It was is believed to be one of the longest games in either program's history, California (28-24, 11-17) defeated No. 11-ranked Stanford (37-15, 17-11 Pac-12) 5-4 in 18 innings in five hours and 58 minutes.
he game saw 125 combined at-bats and a combined 569 pitches.
Tony Renda delivered the game-winning single, after going 0-for-7 prior to the 18th inning at-bat against loser Dean McArdle (3-3). Logan Scott (4-2) countered with 5.1 scoreless innings for the win, before Justin Jones, Saturday's starter, picked up his second career save.
In the final half inning, Kenny Diekroeger led off the inning with a double, before a sacrifice bunt put him on third against Jones. A walk was followed by a strikeout and groundout to give Cal the series opener. McArdle countered with 6.0 innings, giving up one run on three hits.
The game went deep into the night after each team scored two runs in the 12th inning.
A wild 12th inning saw each team score twice. Chad Krist put the Bears up 4-2 on a two-out, two-run single, before Stanford tied it with their own wild two-out rally.
After Austin Wilson delivered a two-out RBI double to make it 4-3, controversy ensued.
With closer Logan Scott on the mound and pinch-hitter Brett Michael Doran at the plate, Stanford brieflywon, then tied the game. Home plate umpire Billy Speck called Doran's hit down the leftfield line, fair, briefly winning the game for the Cardinal as the team celebrated at second base. Instead following a conference, Doran was sent back to the plate with the bases loaded , two out and two strikes. Doran's half swing past the mound, tied the game on a bunt single, as Wilson tried to score from second and was called out, making in 4-4.
After three scoreless innings, the Bears got to reliever A.J. Vanegas in the 12th. After a leadoff single and one-out walk, Krist delivered a single to center to make it 4-2. Vanegas, a former starter, went 4.2 innings.
Joey Donofrio went 2.1 scoreless frames before Michael Lowden came on for, what he hoped was the final 2.0 innings. He would not get there.
Cal went to its pen with Donofrio with two outs in the eighth and the go-ahead run at second. After a walk, Donofrio got an inning ending groundout to keep it at 2-2.
Each team trade runs, as Cal scored on a Krist double in the second, before an unearned run in the fourth tied it at 1-1.
Cal starter Matt Flemer went 7.2 innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on seven hits, as both starters figured in no-decisions.
Mark Appel went the first 7.0 innings, giving up one run on six hits, striking out eight and walking two, leaving with a 2-1 lead prior to Cal tying it with an unearned run in the eighth against Vanegas. Dominic Jose's RBI single in the seventh made it 2-1 for the Cardinal.
NOTES: The longest known games in both school's history was 18 innings, for Cal in 1943 and Stanford in 2002... The game will be replayed throughout the weekend on Root Sports, Comcast Sportsnet and Fox Regional. Check local listings for times. The Bay Area can see the game on Sunday morning.... four games in the last 15 years have gone 15 innings or longer. One in 2002, went 18 innings... Stanford used all four of its catchers tonight... this was the longest game in the Pac-12 this season... In the 15th inning, Stephen Piscotty laid out and made a catch to rob Cal of a base hit... Birthday boy Danny Diekroeger made a defensive dive and throw to end the third, and keep the Bears from scoring. Diekroeger also made a nice play on a liner in the 14th... Saturday and Sunday's games are at 1:15 p.m... Saturday the team will welcome back its players from its 1987 and 1988 championship teams in a pregame ceremony. It is senior day on Sunday.