April 10, 2003
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vs.
No. 4 Stanford Cardinal (22-10)
Fri., Apr. 11, 6 pm (at STAN) - RHP Steve Cuckovich (5-1, 4.33) vs. RHP John Hudgins (5-2, 3.33)
Sat., April 12, 2 pm (at SAC) - TBA vs. RHP Marshall Plouffe (5-2, 2.92)
Both Stanford-Sacramento State baseball games are scheduled to be broadcast on the air at KZSU (90.1 FM) as well as online at gostanford.com ... Nick Kapur and Sam Stefanki will call the action on Friday with Mike Etchepare joining Stefanki for the call on Saturday ... A Gametracker with live stats will be available for Friday's game from a link at gostanford.com ... There will be no Gametracker available on Saturday.
STANFORD BASEBALL QUICK TEAM NOTES
Stanford will play Sacramento State in a two-game home-and-home series this Friday (at Stanford) and Saturday (at Sacramento State) to continue a string of four consecutive non-conference games before resuming Pac-10 action by hosting Oregon State Thursday-Saturday, April 17-19 ... Stanford maintained its No. 4 ranking in the latest Baseball America poll released April 7 and is also ranked No. 4 by Collegiate Baseball, as well as No. 5 by the NCBWA and No. 7 by Sports Weekly/ESPN ... Stanford has won seven straight series, six consecutive road games and 19 of its last 24 games overall ... Stanford is 15-8 in non-conference games this year ... The Cardinal currently is in first place in the Pac-10 standings with a 7-2 conference record (one game ahead of 6-3 California) after completing a three-game Pac-10 sweep with an 8-5 win in 11 innings at Washington State this past Monday ... Stanford has won 16 career Pac-10 championships (includes Southern Division and shared titles) and finished either first or second in the conference 20 times in the last 22 years ... Stanford has reached double-digits in hits in 15 of its last 16 games and has raised its team batting average of .323 (#3 Pac-10), its highest since the team had 15 hits in its season-opener versus Santa Clara ... Stanford has also posted a 4.40 ERA (#3 Pac-10) and a .966 fielding percentage (#4 Pac-10) through its first 32 contests ... Stanford's pitching staff has held its opponents to a Pac-10 low .254 batting average and recorded 11 saves ... Stanford is 42-9 at Sunken Diamond over the past two seasons and 13-5 this year ... Stanford is looking to extend its school record of consecutive appearances at the College World Series to five.
STANFORD BASEBALL QUICK INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Carlos Quentin and Ryan Garko have been swinging the team's hottest bats ... Quentin leads the club in batting average (.423) and is attempting to become the first Stanford player to hit .400 or better since David McCarty finished the 1991 season with a .420 mark ... Quentin also leads the team in hits (52), doubles (16), walks (23), hit-by-pitches (9), extra-base hits (21) and on-base percentage (.535), and has a current career-high 20-game hit streak in which he is hitting .494 (40-81) ... Garko is the team's leader in homers (9), RBI (44), slugging percentage (.669), multiple-RBI games (14) and multiple-hit contests (16, co-leader), and is hitting .568 (21-37) with five homers and 19 RBI during his current season-high nine game hit streak ... Sam Fuld had a career-high 15-game hit streak snapped by going 0-for-4 in his most recent game at Santa Clara (4/8) ... Tobin Swope co-leads the club with 16 multiple-hit games ... John Hudgins leads the conference and the team with 73.0 innings pitched and 67 strikeouts.
STANFORD-SACRAMENTO STATE PREVIEW AND SERIES HISTORY
Stanford and Sacramento State both head into their two-game home-and-home series with four-game win streaks. Stanford leads the all-time series between the clubs, 14-9. The Cardinal won last year's meeting at Sunken Diamond by a score of 6-5 (4/24/02) after falling 12-3 the last time the teams played in Sacramento (Raley Field) on May 2, 2001.
#17 - JOHN HUDGINS (R/R, 6-2, 200, Jr.) ... ALL-AMERICAN CANDIDATE ... FRIDAY STARTER
2003 Season Notes: Leads the team and the Pac-10 with 67 strikeouts and 73.0 innings pitched ... Has posted a 5-2 record and a 3.33 ERA with two complete game during his team-high 10 starts, lasting at least 6.0 innings in each and 7.0 or more on six occasions ... 2003 Individual Game Highlights: Tossed his second complete game of the season to earn a win in a 6-1 victory at Washington State (4/4) in his most recent outing, scattering seven hits and giving up only one run with six strikeouts ... Suffered a loss in Stanford's 5-3 defeat to Washington (3/28), allowing three runs and eight hits over the first 7.0 innings ... Received no-decision in a Pac-10 opening 7-6, 11-inning loss at Arizona State (3/22), scattering four runs and six hits over the first 6.0 innings ... Tossed his first complete game of the season versus California (3/7), allowing just two runs and seven hits with nine strikeouts in an 11-2 Stanford win ... Suffered his first loss of the season versus USC (2/28), giving up eight runs (six earned) and nine hits with six strikeouts over the first 6.0 innings ... Scattered four runs and seven hits with eight strikeouts in 7.0 innings to earn the victory in an 11-7 win at Texas (2/22 - Game 1) ... Took a no-hitter into the eighth inning and earned a win in a 4-1 victory over Fresno State (2/14), allowing just three hits and one run with nine strikeouts over 8.0 innings ... Earned his first career Pac-10 Pitcher of the Week honors (2/11) after holding Florida State to one run and six hits with a career-high 10 strikeouts over the first 9.0 innings of Stanford's 12-inning, 2-1 victory (2/7) ... Picked up a no-decision at Cal State Fullerton (1/31) by scattering 10 hits and three runs over the first 6.0 innings before leaving an eventual 7-3 loss with the score tied 3-3 ... Limited Santa Clara to two runs and five hits with six strikeouts over 6.0 innings in his first start of 2003 to pick up a victory (1/25) ... Career Notes: The only active Stanford pitcher with a shutout to his credit ... Leads active Stanford pitchers in career complete games (5) and strikeouts (179), while ranking second in career victories (16), innings pitched (224.1), saves (4) and games started (28) ... Third among active pitchers with 51 appearances ... Has a 16-8 career record and a 4.17 ERA ... Finished the 2002 season with a 10-1 overall record to rank tied for fourth on Stanford's all-time single season won-loss percentage list (.909) ... Earned honorable mention All-Pac-10 honors in 2002 while also ranking third on the club in both innings pitched (105.0) and strikeouts (62).
TBA ... SATURDAY STARTER
Stanford 17, at Santa Clara 8 (April 8, 2003)
Carlos Quentin (4-5, 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, SB) had a career night to lead Stanford to a 17-8 victory over Santa Clara in a non-conference game at Buck Shaw Stadium. Quentin hit his first career grand slam in the fourth inning and homered twice for second time in his career, while also setting career-highs with six RBI and six runs scored. In addition, Quentin extended his career-long hit streak to 20 games and raised his season batting average to .423 in his attempt to become the first Stanford player to hit .400 or better since David McCarty batted .420 in 1991. Quentin is hitting .494 (40-for-81) during his current 20-game hit streak.
Stanford won its fourth straight game and for the 19th in the last 24 contests. The Cardinal also defeated Santa Clara for the 25th time in the last 26 meetings between the clubs dating back to 1997.
Drew Ehrlich (1-0) earned his first career victory, striking out a career-high seven batters while allowing just two runs and six hits in a career-best 6.1 innings.
Ryan Garko (2-3, 2B, RBI) and Jed Lowrie (2-4, 2 RBI) added two hits each for the Cardinal, while Brian Hall and Tobin Swope drove in a pair of runs each. Hall also homered for the fourth time this season with his two-run shot in the third inning. Garko is hitting .568 (21-37) with five homers and 19 RBI during a current season-long nine-game hit streak. Sam Fuld had his career-high 15-game hit streak snapped with an 0-for-4 performance.
Will Thompson (4-4, 2B, HR, RBI) had four hits for the Broncos, while Jason Matteucci (2-5, 2B, 2 RBI) and Michael Lange (2-5, 2 RBI) each had two hits and drove in a pair of runs. Scott Dierks also hit his team-leading 13th homer of the season for Santa Clara to lead off the bottom of the first inning, while Jim Wallace added a pair of RBI.
2002 STANFORD-SACRAMENTO STATE GAME REVIEWat Stanford 6, Sacramento State 5 (April 24, 2002)
Stanford rallied from a five-run deficit for a 6-5 comeback victory over Sacramento State in a non-conference game. Carlos Quentin's three-run homer down the left field line in the bottom of the seventh inning capped the Stanford comeback. Sam Fuld (3-4, RBI) and Andy Topham (3-4) had three hits each for the Cardinal, while Quentin was 2-4 with a double, homer and three RBI. Darin Naatjes (3-0) recorded the victory with 2.1 scoreless innings of middle relief, while Ryan McCally picked up his team-leading fifth save of the season by pitching a perfect ninth inning.
Everet Rincon (2-4, RBI, SB) picked up a pair of hits for the Hornets, while Joe Evans had two RBI.
NOTEBOOK STANFORD WINS SEVENTH STRAIGHT SERIES, PICKS UP FIRST PAC-10 SWEEP
Stanford picked up its seventh straight series victory by sweeping Washington State (4/4 - 4/7) in its most recent series, recording the first sweep by any team in the first three weeks of Pac-10 action. Stanford's series win streak started versus Fresno State (2/14 - 2/16, sweep) and continued against Texas (2/22 - 2/23, 2-of-3), USC (2/28 - 3/2, 2-of-3), California (3/7 - 3/9, sweep), Arizona State (3/22 - 3/24, 2-of-3) and Washington (3/28 - 3/30). The Cardinal has had to come back to win the final two games of the series three times (USC, Arizona State, Washington) after dropping series openers to keep the streak going. Stanford has won 41 of its last 47 regular season series overall and had series previous win streaks of 17 (broken in 2001) and 12 (broken in 2002) during the period.
STANFORD RUNS WIN STREAK TO FOUR AND SIX STRAIGHT ON THE ROAD
Stanford's 17-8 win at Santa Clara last Tuesday ran the team's win streak to four and its road win streak to six as the Cardinal has captured 19 of its 24 games overall since a 3-5 start to run its season record to 22-10. Stanford's longest win streak of the season was a six-game run from February 14-22.
TOP OF THE PAC
Stanford's three-game sweep at Washington State lifted the Cardinal into sole possession of first place in the Pac-10 standings with a 7-2 conference record, one game ahead of California (6-3 Pac-10). Stanford is in the midst of four straight non-conference games before resuming Pac-10 play by hosting Oregon State in a three-game series April 17-19. Stanford has won a total of 18 conference championships in school history, including 16 Pac-10 crowns (includes Southern Division and shared titles). Stanford's last Pac-10 championship came in 2000 when the team finished in a three-way tie for the conference title with Arizona State and UCLA. Stanford has finished second in the conference behind two-time defending league champion USC each of the last two years and has been among the top two in the conference standings (includes Pac-10 Southern Division) for nine straight seasons and 20 times in the last 22 years.
STANFORD PICKED TO WIN PAC-10 BY BASEBALL AMERICA
Stanford was selected by Baseball America's as the preseason favorite to win the Pac-10, followed by USC, Arizona State, California, Washington, Arizona, UCLA, Oregon State and Washington State. Two-time defending champion USC was chosen in the annual Pac-10 coaches poll, followed by Arizona State, Stanford, California, Arizona, UCLA, Washington, Oregon State and Washington State.
STANFORD REACHES DOUBLE-DIGIT HITS IN 15 OF LAST 16 GAMES
Stanford has reached double-digit hits in 15 of its last 16 games with the sole exception being a seven-hit showing in the series-opener at Washington State (4/4) after Stanford had posted a string of 12 straight games with 10 or more hits.
CARLOS QUENTIN'S CAREER NIGHT CONTINUES BIG SEASON
Carlos Quentin had a career night to lead Stanford to a 17-8 win at Santa Clara (4/8) in the team's most recent game. Quentin hit his first career grandslam and homered twice for the second time in his career, while setting new career-highs with six RBI and six runs scored. Quentin also extended his current career-high and team season-best hit streak to 20 games. In addition, he raised his season batting average to .423 (#3 Pac-10) as he attempts to become the first Stanford player to hit .400 or better in a season since David McCarty batted .420 in 1991. Quentin is hitting a team-high .494 (40-81) with 14 doubles, one triple, four homers, 26 RBI and six stolen bases during his 20-game hit streak. On the season, Quentin also leads the Cardinal in hits (52, #6 Pac-10), doubles (16, #2 Pac-10), walks (23, #6T Pac-10), hit-by-pitches (9, #4 Pac-10), extra-base hits (21) and on-base percentage (.535, #2 Pac-10).
RYAN GARKO LEADS TEAM IN HOMERS AND RBI, CONTINUES HOT STRETCH
Ryan Garko has extended his team lead in homers (9) and RBI (44) during his current red-hot season-long nine-game hit streak in which he is hitting .568 (21-37) with five doubles, five homers and 19 RBI. After going 0-for-9 with five strikeouts in the first two games at Arizona State (3/22 - 3/23), Garko started his current run in the series finale versus the Sun Devils by going 4-for-4 (career-high-tying four hits) with a key two-run homer in the eighth inning and three RBI. Garko has also twice drove in a career-high-tying four runs versus Washington (3/30) and at Washington State (4/5), going deep twice for the second time in his career against the Cougars. He has 42 RBI in the team's last 25 games, while leading the team in both multiple-RBI games (14) and multiple-hit contests (16, co-leader with Tobin Swope).
JOHN HUDGINS CONTINUES TO LEAD PAC-10 IN INNINGS PITCHED AND STRIKEOUTS
John Hudgins (5-2, 3.33) continues to lead the Pac-10 in both innings pitched (73.0) and strikeouts (67). He has also lasted at least 6.0 innings in each of his 10 starts and has gone 7.0 or more innings six times. Hudgins has a pair of complete game victories this season at Washington State (4/4) and versus California (3/7). Hudgins also carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning in a 4-1 win versus Fresno State (2/14) and earned Pac-10 Pitcher of the Week honors (2/11) after holding Florida State (2/7) to just one run and six hits with a career-high 10 strikeouts over the first 9.0 innings of a game Stanford eventually won, 2-1 in 12 innings.
SAM FULD HAS CAREER-BEST 15-GAME HIT STREAK SNAPPED
Sam Fuld had his career-best 15-game hit streak snapped when he was 0-for-4 at Santa Clara (4/8). Fuld hit a team-best .459 (34-74) with five doubles, four triples, 11 RBI and three stolen bases during the streak to briefly regain the top spot on Stanford's all-time batting average list with a career mark that rose as high as .364. Fuld current sits in second place behind the late Jack Shepard (.362, 1951-53) with an updated career mark of .360 (240-667). He began the 2003 campaign on top of Stanford's career batting average list (.367) but lost .017 points off his career down to .350 by hitting .217 (15-69) over the first 16 games this season prior to the 15-game hit streak. Fuld is also Stanford's active career leader in triples (11) and recorded his 100th career RBI in dramatic fashion at Washington State (4/7) with a two-out RBI single to snap a 4-4 tie in the top of the 11th inning.
DREW EHRLICH AND MATT MANSHIP PICK UP FIRST CAREER WINS
Drew Ehrlich and Matt Manship both picked up their first career wins in their most recent outings. Ehrlich struck out a career-high seven batters in a career-long 6.1 innings of relief to earn the win in Stanford's 17-8 victory at Santa Clara (4/8). The 6.1 innings was also the longest relief outing by a Stanford pitcher this season. Manship also had the longest outing of his career with 4.2 innings of relief in a 12-5 at Washington State (4/5) as he allowed just one hit and one run with four strikeouts.
JOHN MAYBERRY, JR. AND SAM FULD CHALLENGING 50-YEAR-OLD TRIPLE RECORD
John Mayberry, Jr. and Sam Fuld have six and five triples, respectively, just over the halfway point of the regular season and are challenging Stanford's single-season record of 10 set a half-century ago by Jack Shepard in 1953. The next triple for Mayberry and two more for Fuld will put them on the single-season top 10 list in a sixth-place tie with nine others.
TOBIN SWOPE CO-LEADS TEAM WITH 16 MULTIPLE-HIT GAMES
Tobin Swope has multiple-hit games in seven of his last 12 contests and co-leads the team in that category with 16. Swope has also hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games and 24 of 32 on the season.
ACTIVE PLAYERS IN THE SCHOOL RECORD BOOK
Following is a list of all active Stanford players in the school's record book ...
Individual Career Records: Batting Average - Sam Fuld (.360, 2nd); Saves - Ryan McCally (12, 7th-T)
Individual Season Records: Hits - Sam Fuld (110, 2002, 1st); Hit-by-Pitch - Carlos Quentin (19, 2002, 1st-T; 14, 2001, 9th-T), Ryan Garko (16, 2002, 5th-T); At Bats - Sam Fuld (293, 2002, 4th); Won-Loss Percentage - John Hudgins (.909, 2002, 10-1, 4th-T); Saves - Ryan McCally (7, 2002, 9th-T)
STRONG FRESHMAN CLASS MAKING KEY CONTRIBUTIONS
Stanford's strong freshmen class is making key contributions in its first season on The Farm. Jed Lowrie (.326, 0 HR, 10 RBI, 3 SB) and John Mayberry, Jr. (.311, 3 HR, 23 RBI, 3 SB) have been regulars in the starting lineup, while Chris Lewis (.179, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 1 SB) has also made 18 starts. Mayberry leads the team with six triples. On the mound, Mark Romanczuk paces the club and is the co-Pac-10 leader in victories with a 6-0 record, while recording a 4.36 ERA, two saves and 34 strikeouts in 43.1 innings. Romanczuk moved into the team's starting rotation with his first start versus USC (3/2) and won his first three starts before picking up no-decisions in his two most recent starts. Matt Manship (1-2, 4.15, 3 SV) and Kodiak Quick (1-0, 5.94, 3 SV) co-lead the team with three saves each.
CARDINAL LOOKING TO EXTEND STRING OF 40-WIN SEASONS TO NINE
Stanford is looking to extend its string of 40-win seasons to nine in 2003 after picking up its eighth straight 40-win season last year by finishing with a 47-18 overall mark. The last time Stanford didn't win 40 games was when the club finished 27-28 in 1993.
FRIENDLY CONFINES
Despite being upset by USF (4/1) in its most recent appearance at Sunken Diamond, Stanford has posted a 42-9 record at home over the past two seasons. The Cardinal extended its home Pac-10 series win streak to 14 by taking two-of-three from Washington (3/28 - 3/30) in its most recent series at Sunken Diamond. Stanford did have two home win streaks snapped earlier this year versus Florida State. The Seminoles ended Stanford's 11-game win streak with a 4-3 victory in the second game of the series (2/8) and then won 10-8 in 12 innings in the series finale (2/9) to become the first opponent to win a series at Sunken Diamond since USC took two-of-three against the Cardinal from April 16-18, 1999, a span of 22 series. Stanford has since won four straight home series versus Fresno State (2/14 - 2/16, sweep), USC (2/28 - 3/2, 2-of-3), California (3/7 - 3/9, sweep) and Washington (3/28 - 3/30, 2-of-3). Stanford's next home series is scheduled versus Oregon State (Thursday-Saturday, April 17-19).
STANFORD LEADS PAC-10 IN BATTING AND ERA IN CONFERENCE GAMES ONLY
Stanford leads the Pac-10 in batting average (.345) and ERA (4.83) for conference games only through its first Pac-10 games of the season.
STANFORD TO HOST SAN JOSE STATE AND OREGON STATE NEXT WEEK
Stanford begins a busy stretch of four games in five days by hosting San Jose State next Tuesday, April 15. The Cardinal holds an all-time 72-30 lead in the series. Last year, the teams split a pair of games with both clubs winning on their home field (at Stanford 5-4, April 9; at San Jose State 12-0, May 1). San Jose State last won at Sunken Diamond with a 4-1 victory on March 11, 2000. Stanford leads Oregon State in the all-time series, 30-11. Last year, Oregon State took two-of-three over Stanford in Corvallis (April 26-28; W, 3-1; W, 4-3; L, 0-13). Stanford swept the Beavers the last time they played at Sunken Diamond (April 12-14, 2001; W, 4-1, W, 8-1; W, 22-5 -- 7 inn.).
2002 SEASON REVIEW
Stanford made its school record fourth straight appearance at the College World Series in 2002, reaching a bracket final before being defeated by eventual CWS champion Texas. Stanford finished the season with a 47-18 overall record to mark its eighth straight campaign with 40 or more victories and finished 16-8 in Pac-10 action to place second in the conference.
FOUR STANFORD PLAYERS EARN 2003 PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN HONORS
Four Stanford players have earned 2003 Preseason All-American honors. Sam Fuld was selected to all three of the major preseason All-American teams (NCBWA First Team, Baseball America Third Team, Collegiate Baseball Third Team). Carlos Quentin was named First Team by Baseball America and Third Team by the NCBWA. Ryan Garko was a Second Team Collegiate Baseball pick, while Tim Cunningham earned Third Team NCBWA honors. Fuld is the only member of the group to earn regular season All-American honors in 2002 (NCBWA First Team, Baseball America Third Team, Collegiate Baseball Third Team).
CARDINAL, WHITE AND BLUE
Stanford emerged on top of a recent USA National Team player study. Stanford has produced 20 Team USA players that have played in 28 seasons over the last 18 years, more than any other collegiate program in the nation in both categories. Stanford is also tops in the nation with at least one players on the Team USA roster for 16 consecutive years. Four current Stanford players have participated with Team USA -- Tim Cunningham (2001), Sam Fuld (2001, '02), Ryan Garko (2001, '02), Carlos Quentin (2001, '02).
STANFORD PLAYERS IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Stanford has had 59 former players reach the Major Leagues, most recently with the debuts of Joe Borchard (OF, Chicago White Sox) and Justin Wayne (RHP, Florida Marlins) in September of 2002. Three former Stanford players have played Major League Baseball during the 2003 season in Jeffrey Hammonds (OF, Milwaukee Brewers), Rick Helling (RHP, Baltimore Orioles) and Mike Mussina (RHP, New York Yankees). Bob Boone (Manager, Cincinnati Reds) and Ruben Amaro, Jr. (Assistant GM, Philadelphia Phillies) are also involved with Major League Baseball in 2003.
OFFENSIVE REPORT
Stanford has raised its team season batting average to .323 (#3 Pac-10) with 15 double-digit hit games in its last 16 outings, hitting .357 during the stretch. The .323 overall batting average would rank third on Stanford's all-time list for a single-season. The Cardinal has also scored 151 runs over the same 16-game stretch for a 9.4 per game average. Stanford banged out a season-high 20 hits versus California (3/9). In its last five three-game series, Stanford has hit .336 at Washington State, .388 versus Washington, .312 at Arizona State, .402 against California and .343 versus USC. Carlos Quentin is having a huge season and leads the club in batting average (.423), hits (52), doubles (16), walks (23), hit-by-pitches (9), extra-base hits (21) and on-base percentage (.535). Ryan Garko has team-highs in home runs (9), RBI (43), total bases (87), slugging percentage (.669), multiple-RBI games (14), multiple-hit games (16, co-leader with Tobin Swope) and sacrifice flies (3, shares team lead with Jed Lowrie and Danny Putnam). Sam Fuld paces the club in runs scored (36) and at bats (147). John Mayberry, Jr. leads the team with six triples, while Brian Hall has a team-high 11 stolen bases. Garko (.377), Putnam (.356), Fuld (.333), Swope (.333), Lowrie (.326) and Mayberry (.311) join Quentin above the .300 mark.
PITCHING REPORT
Stanford's ERA currently sits at 4.40 (#3 Pac-10). Mark Romanczuk (6-0, 4.36, 2 SV, 43.1 IP, 34 SO) co-leads the Pac-10 in victories, while John Hudgins (5-2, 3.33, 73.0 IP, 67 SO) is the conference leader in innings pitched and strikeouts. Hudgins also has two of the team's four complete