STANFORD, Calif. - More than 100 alumni returned to celebrate head coach Mark Marquess, and the current Cardinal delivered a second straight shut out as Stanford topped Kansas, 5-0, at Sunken Diamond on Saturday afternoon.
Stanford (4-2) posted back-to-back shutouts for the first time in 12 years, and extended its home winning streak to 10 games dating back to last season.
Freshman Erik Miller made his first start on The Farm and threw seven scoreless innings. He struck out four and allowed just three hits and one walk. He allowed just one Jayhawks baserunner to reach scoring position.
Junior Mikey Diekroeger out-hit Kansas (2-4) by himself. He went 4-for-4 with three RBI and a double. Stanford got on the board in the second when Diekroeger lined a single up the middle and Duke Kinamon scored from second.
In the following inning, freshman Andrew Daschbach, making his first career start, led off with a double that bounced off the wall in dead centerfield. He scored on a single to left by senior catcher Alex Dunlap. Three batters later, Diekroeger pushed one into the gap in left center to score a pair and give the Cardinal a 4-0 lead.
Stanford capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly by freshman Daniel Bakst in the fifth.
Senior Tyler Thorne finished off the shut out with two scoreless innings. He did not allow a hit or walk, and struck out two.
NUMBERS...
Diekroeger's four hits tied a career high from a March outing against San Jose State in 2015. Eight different players had at least one hit for Stanford, including Bakst, who registered the first of his career with a second-inning single up the middle.
AND NOTABLES
The last time Stanford had two straight shutouts was in 2005 against UC Davis (8-0) and Nevada (13-0) on May 2-3 ... The Cardinal last posted a double-digit winning streak at Sunken Diamond between the 2012-13 seasons (10 games) ... Saturday's attendance was exactly 1,947, the same year Coach Marquess was born.
HONORING "NINE"
Prior to first pitch, Coach Marquess was joined on the field by alumni from all four decades of his Stanford coaching career. In a pregame ceremony in his honor, each decade of Cardinal was recognized for their contributions under Coach Marquess, and a "9" flag was raised in centerfield, to be flown all season long. Coach Marquess also caught the first pitch from three of his grandchildren. All alumni received and wore "9" jerseys and hats with the Final Season logo. Stanford players also wore the shirts for batting practice. Former voice of Stanford Athletics and current
Pac-12 Networks announcer Ted Robinson hosted the pregame ceremony, while video messages from alums that could not make the ceremony will be played throughout the game on the videoboard. Also in between innings, there were famous "Marquess Moments" featured, Coach Marquess trivia, and various slideshows from his career. In addition, a "9" was painted on the field exactly 9 paces away from the backstop, and concessions unveiled the Commemorative Coach Marquess cup and Coach Marquess specials for $9.99.
WHAT'S AHEAD
Stanford continues a stretch of nine games in 11 days at Sunken Diamond. The Cardinal and Jayhawks wrap up the series at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
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