Season Opener

STANFORD, Calif. - The final season under legendary head coach Mark Marquess begins on Friday. No. 23 Stanford baseball opens 2017 with a three-game set at No. 8 Cal State Fullerton, and a road Monday matinee at Cal Poly.

Series History

Overall vs. Cal State Fullerton (since 19679): 59-44 (.573)
» Last Season: W, 2-0; W, 2-1; L, 4-3 (Feb. 20-21 at Sunken Diamond)
   » These teams have met each of the past two seasons. Prior to that, the last meeting between these schools was in the 2011 NCAA Regional in Fullerton in 2011—Stanford defeated the eighth-ranked Titans, 1-0. Jordan Pries (7.2 innings) and eventual first round draft pick Chris Reed (1.1) combined for the shutout. Stanford won the Regional the next day with a 14-2 victory over Illinois, but eventually fell in the Super Regional at North Carolina.
» The season prior, Fullerton ended Stanford's season in the 2010 Fullerton Regional, 6-5.
» Stanford was swept the last time these teams met in Fullerton (2015) and the last time these teams opened a season in Fullerton (2007).
» Opening Day rained out last season and Stanford swept a doubleheader on Saturday. Tristan Beck became just the third Stanford freshman to start on Opening Day and earned
the win in Game One. The Titans salvaged the final game of the series on Sunday, 4-3.

Current Cardinal Against the Titans

» Starter Chris Castellanos has a 1.50 ERA in two appearances (6.0 inn) vs. Fullerton
» Junior Mikey Diekroeger had the game-winning home run in Game 2 vs. the Titans in 2016.
» Junior Colton Hock has a 1.80 ERA in three appearances (5.0 inn) and two saves vs. Titans.
» Junior Matt Winaker is 4-of-16 (.250) with two homers in six career games against Fullerton.

It's been a Field of Dreams.

Coach Marquess and grandson, Wyatt, prepare for the #FinalSeas9n at Sunken.

9?????» https://t.co/R16G5Dt39J pic.twitter.com/7moKCSlI4O

— Stanford Baseball (@StanfordBSB) February 7, 2017

#FinalSeas9n  

Shortly after the 2016 season, head coach Mark Marquess announced that 2017 would be his final season.
    » Most wins in Pac-12 history, fourth-most wins in Division I history
    » Two national championships (1987, 1988) and 29 NCAA Tournament berths and 14 CWS
    » Nine-time conference Coach of the Year, three-time national Coach of the Year
    » 38 winning seasons in first 40 years, including six 50-win campaigns
Other "9" Notables 
    » All his student-athletes get at least one quarter ahead academically by their junior year.
    » Handwrites all his practice schedules.
    » Carries his signature briefcase to the dugout before/after each game.
    » Student-athletes are responsible for Sunken Diamond groundskeepingHonoring Nine 

Colloquially known by his jersey number "9", here are some ways the University and team will be honoring Coach Marquess this season:
    » Personal messages can be sent to Coach Marquess at this link: bit.ly/NineNote
    » Served as football's honorary captain for the weekend and game against Rice (Nov. 26)
    » All season ticket prices end in 9, and Two for Tuesday ticket deals are now $9 (was $12).
    » May 9 will have a 1977 theme and ticket prices based on his first season as head coach.  

We're No. 1 

» Stanford finished the 2016 season ranked No. 1 in the nation in fielding percentage (.983). It also set a school record, which eclipsed the previous mark set in 2005 (.977).
»  The Cardinal's 35 errors last season were the fewest in the country (295 teams), and also a program record. The previous Stanford standard for fewest errors in a season was 49, set in 2009.
» The 2016 Stanford pitching staff finished atop the Pac-12 in ERA (3.17), fewest hits allowed (412), fewest runs allowed (201), and fewest home runs (18) allowed.

Stanford Stats 

» The Cardinal finished 31-23 in 2016 to post a .500 season or better for the 38th time in 40 seasons under head coach Mark Marquess.
» Stanford held its opponent to two or fewer runs 23 times last year and went 22-1 in those contests. When Stanford allowed more then two runs, the Cardinal was 9-22.
» The Cardinal was 22-3 when out-hitting its opponent in 2016, and 4-19 when not.

Stanford Streaks 

» Former shortstop and current St. Louis Cardinal prospect, Tommy Edman, has played in the last 143 straight games for Stanford (started 140 in a row). The 2017 opener will mark the first time since 2014 that Edman will not be in Coach Marquess' lineup.
» Junior outfielder Quinn Brodey's 14-game hit streak at the end of last season (ended in final series of the year against Oregon) was the longest of the year for the Cardinaland the longest for a Stanford player since current Cincinnati Reds prospect Alex Blandino hit safely in 24 straight in 2014.
» Last season, senior Alex Dunlap reached base in 18 straight games (April 9-May 10)—the longest streak for a Cardinal since Alex Blandino did so in 31 consecutive games in 2014.

Preseason All-America  

» Junior Colton Hock, junior Quinn Brodey and sophomore Tristan Beck were named preseason All-Americans. 
» Baseball America named Hock a first-team reliever, Beck was a second-team starter and Brodey was a third-team outfielder.
» Beck also earned All-America status as a first-team recognition from Perfect Game, second-team honoree from College Sports Madness, second-team pick by 
D1Baseball.com and third-team selection from Collegiate Baseball News. 

TV Games 

» Eighteen Stanford baseball games will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Networks in 2017. 
» More than half of Stanford's conference slate will be televised (16 of 30) as well as two non-conference mid-week matchups with rival Cal. 
» The Cardinal will be the network's main showcase on Thursday Night Baseball four times, and will be the featured in a rare Monday night showdown with their arch rival from Berkeley on May 15. 

They're Back!  

» Stanford returns all of its starting pitching and the majority of its bullpen.
» Stanford also returns every regular starter from 2016 except SS Tommy Edman.  

2017 Schedule

» Stanford plays 29 of its 54 games at Sunken Diamond. 
» Stanford opened with four straight road contests for the first time since starting with seven straight away from The Farm in 2001 (finished as national runner-up). 
» The Cardinal play its first 16 games in just 23 days.
 » 11-day break from March 12-23 for finals.
 » Longest road stint this year is four games (five times). 
 » Longest home stand is eight games on two occasions—that includes a 25-day stretch from March 12-April 6 after Finals where Stanford doesn't leave The Farm. 
 » Stanford has 20 games against NCAA Tournament teams from last season.

Preseason Prognostications 

» Pac-12 coaches picked Stanford baseball to finish second in the conference in 2016.
» Oregon State was selected as the Pac-12 favorite. The Beavers earned 97 points and eight first-place votes, while Stanford garnered two first-place votes and 89 points. 
» Last season, Stanford was picked seventh and finished sixth at 15-15 in conference play.
» Stanford was also among the Top 25 in all five preseason national polls.

Fresh new uni's this year ?? #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/a84tKEnLZQ

— Stanford Baseball (@StanfordBSB) February 10, 2017

Last Time Out

» Stanford swept Oregon in its final series of the 2016 season.
» Stanford finished the season 31-23 overall for its 38th winning season in 40 years under head coach Mark Marquess (entering his 41st season in 2017). 
» The Cardinal went 15-15 in Pac-12 play to finish sixth in the conference. 
» Four Cardinal were drafted. RHP Cal Quantrill went to the Padres with the eighth overall selection, while RHP Chris Viall (Mets) and SS Tommy Edman (Cardinals) both went in the sixth round. Senior Jack Klein was picked in the 33rd round by the Phillies before deciding to return to The Farm for his final year of eligibility. 

Up Next

» The Cardinal wraps up its four-game road trip to start the season at Cal Poly on Monday.
» Stanford then returns home for eight games in 10 days.
» The Cardinal plays its first 16 games in 23 days before spring break and conference play.