April 20, 2004
at
No. 2 Stanford (29-5)
Tuesday, April 20, 6 pm
TBA vs. TBA
vs.
No. 2 Stanford
Tuesday, April 23, 6 pm (at Stanford)
TBA vs. LHP Mark Romanczuk (7-1, 4.16)
Saturday, April 24, 2 pm (at Sacramento State)
TBA vs. Jeff Gilmore (6-1, 4.57)
MEDIA COVERAGE
Gametracker: Tuesday | Friday
Live Audio: gostanford.com ... Sean Bruich and Alex Gyr will be on the microphones for the Tuesday night game, while Sam Stefanki and Mike Etchepare will handle the broadcasts on Friday and Saturday ... A Gametracker with live stats will be available for the first two games of the week will also be available from a link at gostanford.com ... There will be no Gametracker available for Saturday's game at Sacramento State.
QUICK TEAM NOTES
Stanford sits atop the Pac-10 standings by two full games after recording the first sweep by any Pac-10 team in a conference series this past Friday-Sunday versus California to improve to 7-2 in the conference ... Arizona, USC and Washington all sit a pair of games behind the Cardinal tied for second-place, each with 4-3 conference marks ... Stanford is the No. 2 team in the latest of all four major college baseball national polls released on Monday, April 19 (Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball, NCBWA and Sports Weekly/ESPN) for the second consecutive week ... Stanford had been the nation's No. 1 team in the Baseball America (for the seventh consecutive week) and Collegiate Baseball polls on April 5, while ranking second in the NCBWA and Sports Weekly/ESPN polls ... Stanford's 29-5 record is the third-best in school history after 34 games following the 1982 (29-4-1) and 1967 (28-4-2) clubs ... The Cardinal has won all 10 of its regular season series this year, 14 in a row overall and 22 of its last 23 dating back to last season ... Stanford has swept five of its 10 series this season and eight during its current 14-series win streak ... Stanford is scheduled to play 14 of its remaining 22 regular season games at home, where the Cardinal has won 24 of its last 25 games at home and has a 15-1 record this season ... Stanford has also won 28 of its last 32 true road games, finishing last year with a 14-game win streak in true road games and beginning this season with a 14-4 mark away from Sunken Diamond ... All told, the Cardinal has a 52-9 record in its last 61 games dating back to the 2003 campaign ... Stanford has come from behind in 13 of its 29 wins this year and is 4-5 when either tied or trailing heading into the ninth inning (2-1 tied, 2-4 trailing) ... Stanford is 5-1 this season against ranked teams ... Stanford has been errorless in 13 of its first 34 games ... Stanford has more than doubled its opponents scoring (307-146) as 25 of its 29 wins have been by three or more runs and 13 of its wins have been by six runs or better ... Stanford is currently hitting a season-high and Pac-10-leading .326, while averaging 9.0 runs per contest and posting 10 or more runs in five of its last 10 contests ... The Cardinal has also reached double digits in hits in a season-high 10 straight games and 27 times this season ... The pitching staff and the team's defense also lead the Pac-10 with a 3.91 and a .973 fielding percentage, respectively ... The Cardinal second in the Pac-10 with a .972 fielding percentage ... Stanford is looking to extend its school record string of consecutive appearances at the College World Series to six, as well as its string of 40-win season to 10, while Stanford has won 50 or more games in three of the last four seasons ... Stanford has captured 11 Pac-10 titles in the last 21 years and finished either first or second in the conference 21 times in last 23 seasons.
QUICK INDIVIDUAL NOTES
National Player of the Year candidate Jed Lowrie leads the Cardinal in nearly every offensive category - batting average (.397), runs scored (44), triples (4), homers (11), RBI (47), extra-base hits (22), total bases (98), slugging percentage (.778), bases on balls (30), on-base percentage (.509), sacrifice flies (5) and multiple-RBI games (14) ... Lowrie is also tied for second on the club in hits (50) and tied for second in doubles (7) ... Danny Putnam has taken over the team lead in hits (52), while ranking second on the club in homers (10), as well as third in RBI (36) and batting average (.359) ... Jonny Ash is second on the club in both batting average (.372) and hits (51) ... Putnam and Ash co-lead the club with 16 multiple-hit games each ... Brian Hall has moved up to third on the club with a .371 average during a current career-high 19-game hit streak (3/5 - 4/18) ... Hall's hit streak is the longest by a Stanford player this year as his average has risen 163 points during the streak from a season-low .208 ... Hall also leads the team with 10 stolen bases and eight doubles, while contributing two triples, seven homers and 34 RBI ... John Mayberry is also having a solid season with a .346 batting average, while ranking second on the club in RBI (38) and third in homers (9) despite going just 4-for-22 (.182) over his last six games ... Ryan Seawell (.345) and Donny Lucy (.336) are the team's other players hitting better than .300 ... Lucy has a current career-high 11-game hit streak, while Sam Fuld (.284, 1 HR, 18 RBI, 4 SB) has a season-best 10-game string going ... Fuld broke Stanford's all-time runs record versus California on Saturday and now has 247 in his career, while also ranking among Stanford's all-time leaders in hits (328, #3), at bats (963, #3), triples (16, #3T), doubles (58, #6T) and games played (234, #7) ... Mark Romanczuk leads the team with seven wins, while David O'Hagan is 5-0 with a team-high four saves and the lowest ERA (2.20) among pitchers with at least one inning per team game played ... Jeff Stimpson has an 0.87 ERA in 20.2 frames over 11 relief appearances.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Stanford has won 18 straight games against Saint Mary's and holds an all-time advantage of 47-8 in the series. The last Saint Mary's victory in the all-time series came when the Gaels surprised the Cardinal by a score of 1-0 at Sunken Diamond on February 1, 1994. Stanford won an earlier game between the teams this season in Moraga on April 23 by a score of 7-3 and won the only contest between the clubs last year with a 10-1 victory over the Gaels on The Farm (5/13/03). Stanford holds an all-time series advantage of 16-9 over Sacramento State (since 1977). The Cardinal swept a pair of games between the teams last year, winning 9-1 at Stanford (4/11/03) and 5-1 at Sacramento State (4/22/03). Stanford also won the only game played between the teams in 2002 by a score of 6-5 at Sunken Diamond (4/24/02). The Hornets came up with a big victory in the second game between the clubs at Raley Field in 2001, winning 12-3 (5/2/01). Stanford has won the last eight games played between the teams at Sunken Diamond with the last Hornet victory on The Farm coming by a score of 8-5 on April 30, 1994.
2004 VERSUS SAINT MARY'S
Stanford 7, at Saint Mary's 3 (March 23, 2004) - Stanford returned from a 15-day break with a 7-3 victory over Saint Mary's as Danny Putnam (2-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBI), John Mayberry, Jr. (2-4, HR, RBI), Brian Hall (1-4, HR, 2 RBI) and Jed Lowrie (1-4, HR, RBI) all hit opposite field homers. Jonny Ash (3-5) and Adam Sorgi (2-4) added multiple-hit contests. Greg Reynolds picked up the victory in his first collegiate appearances, scattering two runs (one earned) and five hits with two strikeouts over 3.0 innings of middle relief. The Gaels' Michael Harris (4-4, SB) led all players with four hits.
2003 VERSUS SACRAMENTO STATE
at Stanford 9, Sacramento State 1 (April 11, 2003) - John Hudgins pitched 8.0 scoreless two-hit innings and struck out 11 batters to lead Stanford to a 9-1 victory over Sacramento State. Hudgins retired 20 of the 22 batters he faced and did not allow a hit over his final 6.0 innings before he was relieved by Kodiak Quick to start the ninth inning. Ryan Garko (3-4, 2 RBI) had three hits, while Danny Putnam (2-3, HR, 2 RBI) hit the game's only homer and drove in a pair of runs for the Cardinal.
Stanford 5, at Sacramento State 1 (April 22, 2003) - Carlos Quentin and Danny Putnam each homered to lead Stanford to a 5-1 win over Sacramento State. Jonny Dyer, the second of four Stanford pitchers, was credited with his first victory of the season despite allowing a run and two hits in 1.2 innings of work. Matt Manship picked up a save by retiring all four batters he faced with a pair of strikeouts after coming on with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning.
LAST WEEK
at Stanford 12, Santa Clara 3 (April 13, 2004) - Sam Fuld scored twice to tie the school's all-time runs scored record in Stanford's 12-3 non-conference victory over Santa Clara. The Cardinal scored five times in the bottom of the first inning as Danny Putnam's three-run homer keyed the outburst. Jed Lowrie (3-4, 2B, HR, 3 RBI) and John Hester (3-5, 3 RBI) added three hits and three RBI each for the Cardinal with Lowrie blasing a two-run shot in the second inning for his team-leading 10th long ball of the season. Brian Hall extended his career-high hit streak to 16 games and stole his team-leading ninth base. Matt Leva - the first of five Stanford pitchers that combined on a six-hitter - was credited with the victory. Nathan Faulkner (2-4, HR, 2 RBI) homered and had a pair of hits for the Broncos.
at Stanford 7, California 4 (April 16, 2004) - Brian Hall (4-4, 2B, RBI) tied a career-high with four hits to lead Stanford to a 7-4 victory over California. Mark Romanczuk picked up the win by allowing just five hits and four runs over the first 7.0 innings, while Jeff Stimpson came on to pitch 2.0 hitless innings of relief with two strikeouts to earn his first collegiate save. Danny Putnam (2-3, 3B, RBI) and Chris Carter (2-3, RBI) had two hits each for the Cardinal, while Chris Minaker drove in a pair of runs. California scored all four of its runs by hitting three home runs. Jeff Dragicevich and Brian Horwitz had solo shots in the third and fourth innings for the first two Golden Bear runs, while a two-run homer by David Weiner with no outs in the eighth chased Romanczuk. California starter Adam Gold (5.0 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO) suffered the loss.
at Stanford 9, California 2 (April 17, 2004) - Danny Putnam (3-4, 2 HR, 5 RBI) and Donny Lucy (2-4, 2 HR, 2 RBI) each homered twice to lead Stanford a 9-2 win over California. Sam Fuld also broke Stanford's all-time record for runs scored, while Jeff Gilmore pitched the first complete game of his career and the first by a Stanford pitcher this season by allowing just two runs and five hits with a walk and four strikeouts. Chris Minaker (3-4, 2B, SB) and Jed Lowrie (3-4, RBI) added three-hit games for the Cardinal. Allen Craig was the only California player with more than one hit, while Chris Grossman drove in a pair of runs. California starter Mike Padgett (2.2 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO) took the loss.
at Stanford 8, California 3 (April 18, 2004) - David O'Hagan pitched 5.1 one-hit innings of scoreless relief with five strikeouts to earn the victory and help Stanford to a come-from-behind 8-3 win over California. Jed Lowrie (2-4, HR, 2 RBI) hit his team-leading 11th homer of the season to lead the Cardinal offense. Danny Putnam (2-4, RBI) and Donny Lucy (2-4) also had two hits each, while Brian Hall drove home a pair of runs with a double to cap Stanford's four-run third inning that helped the Cardinal erase an early 2-0 deficit. James Holder accounted for the first two California runs with a two-run homer in the top of the second, while Jeff Dragicevich (2-4) was the only Golden Bear with more than one hit. California starter Matt Brown (2.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 1 SO) was tagged with the loss.
STANFORD REMAINS NO. 2 IN ALL FOUR NATIONAL POLLS
Stanford remained the No. 2 team behind top-ranked Texas for the second consecutive week in the latest of all four major national collegiate baseball polls -- Baseball America's, Collegiate Baseball, NCBWA, Sports Weekly/ESPN released Monday, April 19. Stanford had been the No. 1 team in the Baseball America poll for seven consecutive weeks (February 23 - April 5), as well as the nation's unanimous No. 1 team for two weeks (March 22 - 29) before falling from the top spot to second on April 5 in both the NCBWA and Sports Weekly/ESPN polls and dropping from No. 1 to No. 2 in the Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball polls on April 12. Stanford has been ranked No. 1 at some point in the season for seven of the last eight campaigns. The Cardinal had a string of six consecutive seasons (1997-2002) with a top ranking going but never reached the top of the Baseball America poll in 2003. However, Stanford did finish the 2003 season ranked second in all four polls.
2004 CARDINAL HAS THIRD-BEST RECORD IN SCHOOL HISTORY AFTER 34 GAMES
Stanford's 29-5 record after its first 31 games is the fourth-best record in school history at this point in the season, following the 1967 (29-3-2) and 1982 (29-4-1) clubs. A victory Tuesday versus Saint Mary's would make the 2004 Cardinal only the second team in school history to win at least 30 of its first 35 games. The 1967 club was 30-3-2 in its first 35 games on its way to a 36-6-1 overall record and a third-place finish at the first College World Series attended by a Stanford team.
STANFORD INCREASES PAC-10 LEAD TO TWO FULL GAMES
Stanford (7-2 Pac-10) increased its lead in the Pac-10 race to two full games by sweeping California (April 16-18) in its most recent Pac-10 action after opening its league schedule with two-of-three series victories at both UCLA (4/2 - 4/4) and Oregon State (4/8 - 4/10). Arizona, USC and Washington are all tied for second with 4-3 league marks. Oregon State, UCLA and Washington State are all 4-5 and tied for fifth, while Arizona (5-7) and California (6-9) hold the final two spots.
TOP OF THE PAC
Stanford has won 19 conference championships in school history, including 17 Pac-10 crowns (includes Southern Division and shared titles). The Cardinal won its most recent crown in 2003 when the club finished with an 18-6 conference mark. Stanford had finished second in the conference behind two-time defending league champion USC in 2001 and 2002 prior to its previous Pac-10 title when it shared the championship with Arizona State and UCLA in 2000. Stanford has been among the top two in the conference standings (includes Pac-10 Southern Division) for 10 straight seasons and 21 times in the last 23 years.
STANFORD PICKED AS FAVORITE IN 2004 PRESEASON PAC-10 COACHES POLL
Stanford was picked as the favorite in the 2004 Preseason Pac-10 Coaches Poll, picking up seven first-place votes. Arizona State and Arizona each garnered one first-place vote, while finishing second and third in the poll. USC, Washington, California, UCLA, Oregon State and Washington State rounded out the poll.
STANFORD UNBEATEN IN 2004 SERIES, EXTENDS SERIES WIN STREAK TO 14
Stanford's sweep of California (4/16 - 4/18), the first in a Pac-10 series this season, kept the Cardinal unbeaten in 10 regular season series this year and extended the team's series win streak to 14 in a row dating back to last year. The Cardinal has swept five of its nine series this season and eight during the streak. Stanford has also won 22 of its last 23 regular season series, including 10 in a row on the road and seven straight at home. Stanford lost just two series in 2003, dropping two-of-three at home to Arizona (4/25 - 4/27) and being swept at Cal State Fullerton (1/31 - 2/2).
HOME SWEET HOME
Stanford plays 14 of its remaining 22 regular season games at home, where the Cardinal has won 24 of its last 25 contests dating back to last season and is 15-1 this year. Stanford had a 16-game home win streak broken earlier this year when now top-ranked Texas came up with a 9-6 victory over the Cardinal on February 21 to salvage one game of a three-game series by handing the Cardinal its first and only home loss of 2004. Stanford has won eight straight games at Sunken Diamond (Texas, 2/22; Cal Poly, 3/26 - 3/28; Santa Clara, 4/13; California, 4/16 - 4/18) since the loss to the Longhorns. Stanford's school record home win streak is 27 in a row from April 30, 1982 - April 15, 1983.
STANFORD HAS ALSO WON 28 OF LAST 32 GAMES ON THE ROAD
Stanford, which concluded a stretch of 15 of 18 games on the road by winning two-of-three at Oregon State from April 8-10, has also won 28 of its last 32 true road contests dating back to last year. Stanford finished the 2003 season by winning its final 14 true road games (at Arizona State 3/23 - 3/24; at Washington State 4/4 - 4/5, 4/7; at Santa Clara, 4/8; at Sacramento State, 4/22; at USC 5/3, DH - 5/4; at San Jose State 5/6; at California, 5/11). The Cardinal is 14-4 on the road this year, winning two-of-three at Fresno State (2/6 - 2/8), sweeping a three-game road set at California (2/27 - 2/29), taking two-of-three at USC (3/5 - 3/7), returning from a 15-day break with three consecutive wins at Saint Mary's (3/23), Santa Clara (3/24) and San Jose State (3/30), taking two-of-three at UCLA (4/2 - 4/4) and winning two-of-three at Oregon State (4/8 - 4/10).
CARDINAL 52-9 IN LAST 61 GAMES OVERALL
Stanford's success both at home and on the road has led to an incredible run as the Cardinal is a combined 52-9 over its last 61 games dating back to May 5, 2003. The Cardinal was 23-4 in its final 27 games last year and has jumped out to a 29-5 start this season.
POWER SURGE
Stanford is making a run at the school's all-time home run record of 102 by the 1997 club as the 2004 Cardinal has hit a Pac-10 leading 54 homers in its first 34 games. The Cardinal has hit 22 of the dingers in its first nine conference contests as half of them came when Stanford banged out a series season-high 11 long balls in a three-game set at Oregon State (4/8 - 4/10). The power surge during Pac-10 play is part of the team's offensive explosion since returning from a 15-day break at Saint Mary's on March 23 as the Cardinal has hit 34 homers over its last 16 games.
LOWRIE AND ROMANCZUK APPEAR ON WATCH LISTS
Jed Lowrie (Baseball America, USA Baseball Golden Spikes) and Mark Romanczuk (Roger Clemens Award) appear on current high profile Player and Pitcher of the Year Watch Lists, respectively. Lowrie has emerged as the team's top offensive player as he leads the club in nearly every offensive category; including batting average (.397), homers (11), RBI (47), runs scored (44), triples (4), total bases (98), slugging percentage (.778), bases on balls (30), sacrifice flies (5) and multiple-RBI games (14). Defensively, Lowrie has made just six errors in his first 160 chances for a .963 fielding percentage while starting all 34 games at either shortstop or second base. Romanczuk leads the team in wins (7-1) and strikeouts (56) in 62.2 innings, while posting a 4.16 ERA that is the best among Cardinal starters. Lowrie (NCBWA Co-Hitter of the Week, March 2) and Romanczuk (Pac-10 Pitcher of the Week, March 9) have already earned weekly recognition for their achievements this season.
ASH, HALL, MAYBERRY, O'HAGAN AND PUTNAM ALSO MAKING ALL-AMERICAN BIDS
Jonny Ash, Brian Hall, John Mayberry, Jr., David O'Hagan and Danny Putnam are all making strong cases for All-American honors along with Player/Pitcher of the Year Watch List selections Jed Lowrie and Mark Romanczuk. Ash ranks second on the club in both batting average (.372) and hits (51), adding four homers and 25 RBI. Hall has a current career-high 19-game hit streak going (3/5 - 4/18; .481, 38-79, 5 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 20 RBI, 7 SB) that has raised his average 161 points from a season-low .208 to its current .371. Hall also leads the club with 10 stolen bases, eight double and five sacrifice bunts, while contributing seven homers and 34 RBI. Mayberry ranks second on the club with 38 RBI, as well as third in homers (9) and fifth in batting average (.346). O'Hagan has put up amazing numbers out of the bullpen, posting a 5-0 record and saving a team-high four games with a 2.20 ERA in a team-high 13 appearances. He has struck out 44 batters in 41.0 innings and allowed just 26 hits with opponents hitting only .184 against him. Putnam has caught fire of late and now ranks second on the club with 10 homers, as well as third in both batting average (.359) and RBI (36).
FULD BREAKS SCHOOL'S ALL-TIME RUNS RECORD
Sam Fuld scored the 245th run of his Stanford career versus California on April 17 break the school's all-time runs scored record, surpassing former all-time record holder (Mark Davis, 244, 1983-86). Fuld is also among Stanford's all-time leaders in hits (328, #3), at bats (963, #3), triples (16, #3T), doubles (58, #6T) and games played (234, #7).
SAVE DROUGHT
After logging 10 saves in its first 19 wins to threaten the pace of the school record 23 saves recorded in 2001, Stanford has logged just one save in its last nine victories and 11 games. David O'Hagan leads the way with four, while Blake Holler has picked up a pair. Jonny Dyer, Jeff Gilmore, Matt Manship, Kodiak Quick and Jeff Stimpson have one each.
THE NEW NINE
Nine players have made their first appearances in a game for the Cardinal this season. Blake Holler has been in the starting rotation for the last nine weekend series and is 3-2 with a 4.89 ERA, adding two saves in 10 appearances and eight starts while striking out 29 batters in 42.1 innings of work. Jeff Stimpson has become one of the team's top relievers, allowing just two runs and 11 hits in his first 20.2 collegiate innings for an 0.87 ERA as well as a team-low .159 batting average while striking out 18. Stimpson won his first collegiate game when he struck out a career-high six batters in 2.2 hitless innings at Oregon State on April 10 and picked up his first collegiate save with 2.0 innings of hitless relief work versus California on April 16. Ryan Seawell has 10 hits in his first 29 collegiate at bats for a .345 batting average in 13 games played and five starts, while also contributing two doubles and seven RBI. Adam Sorgi has started 14 of the team's first 30 games at shortstop and appeared in 18. Sorgi has a .220 batting average, a double and four RBI. Jim Rapoport has played in 17 games with five starts, contributing a .259 batting average, one triple and four RBI. Matt Leva has a 3-0 record and a 4.76 ERA in seven appearances and two starts. Greg Reynolds is 1-0 with a 4.91 ERA in 7.1 innings over four relief appearances. Ben Summerhays is hitting .200 with two hits in 10 at bats over eight games played off the bench and former student manager Cameron Matthews has played in four games, three as a pinch-runner and his first as a defensive player when he entered the game in right field during Stanford's most recent contest versus Santa Clara on April 13.
COMEBACK CREW
Stanford has come from behind at some point in 13 of its first 29 victories this season, coming back to win games when trailing by three or more runs heading into the eighth inning on three occasions. Brian Hall provided arguably the most dramatic moment of the season when his first career grand slam capped a seven-run Stanford ninth inning rally for a 10-6 victory over Kansas (2/15). Stanford trailed 7-3 at USC (3/6) before scoring four times in the top of the ninth inning to extend the game into extra innings and eventually take home an 8-7 win in 13 frames. Most recently, the Cardinal trailed 7-4 after seven innings at Oregon State (4/8) before scoring three runs in the eighth to tie the game and four more times in the ninth to win the contest.
WINNING BY A BUNCH
Despite having to come from behind in 13 of its 29 wins, 25 of the team's victories have come by three runs or more and 15 have been by five or more runs as Stanford has more than doubled its opponents' run production this season by a count of 307-146.
ERRORLESS EFFORTS
Stanford has played errorless baseball in 13 of its first 34 games this season, including a string of five straight errorless games from January 31 - February 8, as well as three in a row in a series at California (2/27 - 2/29), as well as three straight against three different teams in Cal Poly (3/28), San Jose State (3/30) and UCLA (4/2). Stanford is currently leading the Pac-10 with a .973 fielding percentage that would rank tied for second on the school's all-time list.
STANFORD TRAVELS TO SANTA CLARA BEFORE HOSTING WASHINGTON STATE NEXT WEEK
Stanford will end a string of four consecutive non-conference games by traveling to Saint Mary's next Tuesday, April 27 (6 pm, PT). The Cardinal will then return to Pac-10 action by hosting Washington State in a three-game series Friday-Sunday, April 30 - May 2 (6 pm, 1 pm, 1 pm, PDT).
OFFENSIVE REPORT
Stanford has averaged 9.0 runs per contest, while hitting a season-high and Pac-10 leading .326 through its first 34 games. Stanford has been even better in Pac-10 action, hitting .368 in nine conference games and averaging 9.6 runs per contest. The team also has 22 of its Pac-10 leading 54 homers in its nine conference games, as well as 34 in 16 games since returning from its 15-day break at Saint Mary's on March 23. National Player of the Year candidate Jed Lowrie leads the club in nearly every offensive category - batting average (.397), runs scored (44), triples (4), homers (11), RBI (47), total bases (98), slugging percentage (.778), bases on balls (30), on-base percentage (.509), sacrifice flies (5), extra-base hits (22) and multiple-RBI games (14). Lowrie is also tied on the club for second with seven doubles and third with 50 hits. Danny Putnam now leads the team with 52 hits, while ranking second in homers (10), as well as third in RBI (36) and fourth in batting average (.359). Putnam was the second consecutive Stanford player to win Pac-10 Player of the Week honors when he picked up the honor for the second time in his career on April 20 after hitting .500 (8-16) with a triple, three homers and 10 RBI in four Cardinal wins last week. Jonny Ash is second on the squad in both batting average (.372) and hits (51). Brian Hall, who leads the club with 10 stolen bases, eight doubles and five sacrifice bunts, has been on a hot stretch with a current career-high 19-game hit streak (3/5 - 4/18; .481, 38-79, 5 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 20 RBI, 7 SB) that has raised his average 163 points from .208 to its current season-high .371. Hall is also fourth on the club with seven homers and 34 RBI. John Mayberry ranks second on the team in RBI (38) and third in homers (9), as well as fifth in batting average (.346) despite a current 4-for-22 slump. Ryan Seawell (.345) and Donny Lucy (.336) are the team's other players hitting .300 or better. Lucy has a current 11-game hit streak, while Sam Fuld (.284, 1 HR, 18 RBI, 4 SB) has a current season-best 10-game streak. Lucy has also been hit by a team-high nine pitches. Stanford scored a season-high 18 runs at Santa Clara (3/23), and has twice posted a season-high 18 hits (at USC, 3/6; vs. California, 4/17). Stanford had season-highs of five homers at Fresno State (2/7) and Oregon State (4/10). Stanford has scored in double figures 15 times and has 10 or more hits in 27 of its first 34 games, including 10 in a row and 19 of its last 22.
PITCHING REPORT
Stanford leads the Pac-10 with a 3.91 ERA after allowing just nine earned runs for a 3.00 ERA in its most recent series versus California (4/16 - 4/18). Mark Romanczuk leads the club in victories (7-1) and strikeouts (56), while co-leading the team along with Jeff Gilmore with 10 games starts. Romanczuk also has the lowest ERA (4.04) among starters. Gilmore, who tossed the first complete game of his career and the first by a Stanford pitcher this season in his most recent start versus California (4/17) is 6-1 with a 4.57 ERA, while leading the team with 63.0 innings of work and striking out 39. David O'Hagan has been stellar out of the bullpen with a 5-0 record and four saves, while leading the Pac-10 with a 2.20 ERA and posting an opponents batting average of just .184. O'Hagan has struck out 44 batters in 41.0 innings and leads the Cardinal with 13 appearances. Blake Holler and Matt Leva have contributed three wins each, while Jonny Dyer, Mark Jecmen, Matt Leva, Kodiak Quick, Jeff Stimpson and Greg Reynolds one a piece. Stimpson (1-1, 1 SV) has an 0.87 ERA with 18 strikeouts in his 20.2 innings of work over 11 appearances out of the bullpen, allowing just 11 hits for a team-low opponents batting average of .159. Holler has added two saves, while Dyer, Gilmore, Matt Manship and Quick have one each.
DEFENSIVE REPORT
Stanford leads the Pac-10 with a .973 fielding percentage, which would rank tied for second on the school's all-time list. Stanford has played errorless baseball in 13 of its first 34 games. The Cardinal made just three errors in its first eight games as its fielding percentage reached as high as .991 after a five-game errorless string (1/31 - 2/8). Stanford also played an errorless contest versus Kansas (2/14), as well as three straight errorless contests with a perfect defensive series at California (2/27 - 2/29) and then three more in games versus Cal Poly (3/28), San Jose State (3/30) and UCLA (4/2). John Mayberry, Jr. leads the club with 321 putouts and has made just two errors in his team-high 336 defensive chances. Mayberry also had a single-game team-high of 17 putouts at USC (3/6). Jed Lowrie has a team-high 103 assists and has made just six errors in his first 34 starts at either shortstop or second base for a .963 fielding percentage. Jonny Ash and Adam Sorgi had team-high-tying seven-assist games versus Cal State Fullerton (2/1) and Cal Poly (3/27), respectively. Stanford has turned 33 double plays this season, including a season-high three at Fresno State (2/8), versus Kansas (2/15) and versus Texas (2/22).
STANFORD HAS PICKED UP THREE 50-WIN SEASONS IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS
Stanford has won 50 or more games in three of the last four years to run its total of 50-win campaigns in school history to six. The Cardinal won a school record 59 contests in 1990. The 1987 CWS championship squad posted 53 victories, while the 2001 and 2003 teams picked up 51 wins. The Cardinal won an even 50 games in 1999 and 2000.
CARDINAL LOOKING TO EXTEND RECORD STRING OF 40-WIN SEASONS TO 10
Stanford will be looking to extend its school record string of 40-win seasons to 10 in 2004. The last time Stanford didn't win 40 games was when the club finished 27-28 in 1993.
2004 PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN HONORS
Four Stanford players have earned 2004 Preseason All-American honors. Sam Fuld picked up a pair of First Team honors (Baseball America, NCBWA), as well as Second Team (Baseball America) and honorable mention (CollegeBaseballInsider.com). John Mayberry, Jr. earned Second Team recognition from Baseball America. Danny Putnam was a First Team selection by Baseball America and CollegeBaseballInsider.com, as well as Third Team NCBWA selection, while Mark Romanczuk was named a Third Team Preseason All-American by Baseball America and the NCBWA and received honorable mention recognition from CollegeBaseballInsider.com.
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STANFORD HEAD COACH MARKMARQUESS
One of the nation's premier collegiate coaches and the winningest coaching in Stanford Baseball history, Mark Marquess is in his 28th season at the helm of the Cardinal in 2004 with a 1173-556-5 (.678) record in 1734 career games, as well as even more impressive marks in the postseason (105-46, .695), and Pac-10 (466-296, .613). Marquess entered the 2004 season ranked 19th on the NCAA's all-time Division I victory list and 46th on the all-time winning percentage list for Division I coaches. For active coaches, he began the season ninth in victories and 15th in winning percentage. He became the 23rd coach in the history of NCAA Division I baseball to reach the 1000-win mark with a victory over Florida State on February 9, 2001. Just over two years later, he picked up win No. 1100 versus Nevada on February 17, 2003. He won his 100th career postseason game in Stanford's NCAA Super Regional clinching victory over Long Beach State (6/7/03). The 1969 Stanford graduate has led the Cardinal to two CWS titles and three runner-up showings in five CWS championship appearances, as well as 13 College World Series trips, five NCAA Super Regional titles, 13 NCAA Regional championships and 11 Pac-10 crowns (includes Southern Division and shared titles). Stanford has also qualified for the NCAA Tournament 21 times in the first 27 years under Marquess. He has been named NCAA Coach of the Year three times and has received Pac-10 or Pac-10 Southern Division Coach of the Year honors on nine occasions, most recently with his selection in 2003. The Cardinal has had 26 winning campaigns in 27 seasons prior to this season under his leadership and finished either first or second in the prestigious Pacific-10 (formerly Pac-10 Southern Division) 21 times in the last 23 years. Stanford has had 112 players drafted by professional baseball in the past 19 seasons, including 14 first round selections in the last 17 years. A member of the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, Marquess was the head coach of the 1988 United States Olympic baseball team that captured the gold medal. Marquess was also an accomplished football and baseball standout on The Farm and is a member of the Stanford Athletic Hall of Fame. He is one of only six collegiate baseball head coaches to have both played and coached in the College World Series. Marquess was the starting first baseman and a First Team All-American on Stanford's 1967 CWS squad and played four seasons of minor league baseball with the Chicago White Sox organization.
COMMENTS FROM MARKMARQUESS
(on sweeping California and the team's 16-game win streak over the Golden Bears)
"It was a tough weekend with some good games. The first two games were very tight, and it was a tough series. I'm pleased we won two-of-three."
(on Stanford's 29-5 overall record and 7-2 league mark)
"It's a great start for us, but there is a long way to go. Every team in our conference is capable of beating each other."
(on the team's home run power)
"It's great that we've hit as many home runs as we have, but you have to be very careful with that. If you try to hit a lot of home runs, you can get yourself into problems."
(on Sam Fuld tying Stanford's all-time runs record)
"Sam Fuld has been one of our key players throughout his career, and he's worked hard for this."
(on Saint Mary's)
"I was very impressed with Saint Mary's when we played them earlier in the year. They played very well and got a lot of hits (14) off our pitching staff. It was a tight game, and we were fortunate we hit four home runs to help us win it."
(on Sacramento State)
"Sacramento State always plays us well."
STANFORD COACHING STAFF
Dean Stotz is in his 28th campaign with Stanford Baseball and his fifth season as associate head coach after he was promoted to the position prior to the 2000 campaign. Stotz served for 23 years as an assistant. Stotz currently coaches third base while also handling various offensive and defensive aspects of the game. Tom Kunis is in his fifth season as Stanford's pitching coach, while Dave Nakama is in his fifth year overall as a Stanford assistant coach.
STANFORD BASEBALL HISTORY
Now in its 111th season, Stanford's storied baseball program has had many highlights since the program began in 1892 ... Stanford has won two NCAA titles (1987, `88) and made 15 appearances in the College World Series, also finishing as the runner-up on three occasions (2000, `01, `03) ... Stanford has also won five NCAA Super Regional titles ... Stanford has qualified for the NCAA Tournament 24 times ... Stanford has won 19 conference championships ... Stanford began the 2004 season with 38 winning seasons in the last 39 campaigns and 55 in its last 57 seasons ... Stanford has won 50 or more games four times in the last five years and six times in school history ... Stanford has won 40 or more games in a school record nine consecutive years and 18 times in school history ... Stanford has an all-time record of 2406-1489-32 (.617) ... A total of 69 former Stanford players have became Major League Baseball players with 12 suiting up in an MLB uniform in 2003 (Jeff Austin - Cincinnati Reds; Joe Borchard, Chicago White Sox; Eric Bruntlett - Houston Astros; Jody Gerut - Cleveland Indians; Jeffrey Hammonds - Milwaukee Brewers, San Francisco Giants; Rick Helling - Baltimore Orioles, Florida Marlins; A.J. Hinch, Detroit Tigers; Dave McCarty - Boston Red Sox, Oakland A's; Jason Middlebrook - New York Mets; Mike Mussina - New York Yankees; Justin Wayne - Florida Marlins; Jason Young - Colorado Rockies) and Bruntlett, Gerut and Young making their debut last season ... Stanford has also had 14 players selected in the first round of the MLB First-Year Player Draft in the last 17 years ... Stanford has boasted 44 All-Americans that have combined to win 54 All-American honors ... Stanford has garnered three NCAA Players of the Year in Jeff Austin (1998), David McCarty (1991) and Steve Dunning (1970) ... Stanford has had an even 100 players earn a combined 133 All-Conference honors ... Six Stanford players earned All-Pac-10 honors in each of the last two seasons, breaking the previous mark of five previously set in 1985, `90 and `94.
STANFORD REMAINS NO. 2 IN ALL FOUR NATIONAL POLLS
Stanford remained the No. 2 team behind top-ranked Texas for the second consecutive week in the latest of all four major national collegiate baseball polls -- Baseball America's, Collegiate Baseball, NCBWA, Sports Weekly/ESPN released Monday, April 19. Stanford had been the No. 1 team in the Baseball America poll for seven consecutive weeks (February 23 - April 5), as well as the nation's unanimous No. 1 team for two weeks (March 22 - 29) before falling from the top spot to second on April 5 in both the NCBWA and Sports Weekly/ESPN polls and dropping from No. 1 to No. 2 in the Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball polls on April 12. Stanford has been ranked No. 1 at some point in the season for seven of the last eight campaigns. The Cardinal had a string of six consecutive seasons (1997-2002) with a top ranking going but never reached the top of the Baseball America poll in 2003. However, Stanford did finish the 2003 season ranked second in all four polls.
2004 CARDINAL HAS THIRD-BEST RECORD IN SCHOOL HISTORY AFTER 34 GAMES
Stanford's 29-5 record after its first 31 games is the fourth-best record in school history at this point in the season, following the 1967 (29-3-2) and 1982 (29-4-1) clubs. A victory Tuesday versus Saint Mary's would make the 2004 Cardinal only the second team in school history to win at least 30 of its first 35 games. The 1967 club was 30-3-2 in its first 35 games on its way to a 36-6-1 overall record and a third-place finish at the first College World Series attended by a Stanford team.
STANFORD INCREASES PAC-10 LEAD TO TWO FULL GAMES
Stanford (7-2 Pac-10) increased its lead in the Pac-10 race to two full games by sweeping California (April 16-18) in its most recent Pac-10 action after opening its league schedule with two-of-three series victories at both UCLA (4/2 - 4/4) and Oregon State (4/8 - 4/10). Arizona, USC and Washington are all tied for second with 4-3 league marks. Oregon State, UCLA and Washington State are all 4-5 and tied for fifth, while Arizona (5-7) and California (6-9) hold the final two spots.
TOP OF THE PAC
Stanford has won 19 conference championships in school history, including 17 Pac-10 crowns (includes Southern Division and shared titles). The Cardinal won its most recent crown in 2003 when the club finished with an 18-6 conference mark. Stanford had finished second in the conference behind two-time defending league champion USC in 2001 and 2002 prior to its previous Pac-10 title when it shared the championship with Arizona State and UCLA in 2000. Stanford has been among the top two in the conference standings (includes Pac-10 Southern Division) for 10 straight seasons and 21 times in the last 23 years.
STANFORD PICKED AS FAVORITE IN 2004 PRESEASON PAC-10 COACHES POLL
Stanford was picked as the favorite in the 2004 Preseason Pac-10 Coaches Poll, picking up seven first-place votes. Arizona State and Arizona each garnered one first-place vote, while finishing second and third in the poll. USC, Washington, California, UCLA, Oregon State and Washington State rounded out the poll.
STANFORD UNBEATEN IN 2004 SERIES, EXTENDS SERIES WIN STREAK TO 14
Stanford's sweep of California (4/16 - 4/18), the first in a Pac-10 series this season, kept the Cardinal unbeaten in 10 regular season series this year and extended the team's series win streak to 14 in a row dating back to last year. The Cardinal has swept five of its nine series this season and eight during the streak. Stanford has also won 22 of its last 23 regular season series, including 10 in a row on the road and seven straight at home. Stanford lost just two series in 2003, dropping two-of-three at home to Arizona (4/25 - 4/27) and being swept at Cal State Fullerton (1/31 - 2/2).
HOME SWEET HOME
Stanford plays 14 of its remaining 22 regular season games at home, where the Cardinal has won 24 of its last 25 contests dating back to last season and is 15-1 this year. Stanford had a 16-game home win streak broken earlier this year when now top-ranked Texas came up with a 9-6 victory over the Cardinal on February 21 to salvage one game of a three-game series by handing the Cardinal its first and only home loss of 2004. Stanford has won eight straight games at Sunken Diamond (Texas, 2/22; Cal Poly, 3/26 - 3/28; Santa Clara, 4/13; California, 4/16 - 4/18) since the loss to the Longhorns. Stanford's school record home win streak is 27 in a row from April 30, 1982 - April 15, 1983.
STANFORD HAS ALSO WON 28 OF LAST 32 GAMES ON THE ROAD
Stanford, which concluded a stretch of 15 of 18 games on the road by winning two-of-three at Oregon State from April 8-10, has also won 28 of its last 32 true road contests dating back to last year. Stanford finished the 2003 season by winning its final 14 true road games (at Arizona State 3/23 - 3/24; at Washington State 4/4 - 4/5, 4/7; at Santa Clara, 4/8; at Sacramento State, 4/22; at USC 5/3, DH - 5/4; at San Jose State 5/6; at California, 5/11). The Cardinal is 14-4 on the road this year, winning two-of-three at Fresno State (2/6 - 2/8), sweeping a three-game road set at California (2/27 - 2/29), taking two-of-three at USC (3/5 - 3/7), returning from a 15-day break with three consecutive wins at Saint Mary's (3/23), Santa Clara (3/24) and San Jose State (3/30), taking two-of-three at UCLA (4/2 - 4/4) and winning two-of-three at Oregon State (4/8 - 4/10).
CARDINAL 52-9 IN LAST 61 GAMES OVERALL
Stanford's success both at home and on the road has led to an incredible run as the Cardinal is a combined 52-9 over its last 61 games dating back to May 5, 2003. The Cardinal was 23-4 in its final 27 games last year and has jumped out to a 29-5 start this season.
POWER SURGE
Stanford is making a run at the school's all-time home run record of 102 by the 1997 club as the 2004 Cardinal has hit a Pac-10 leading 54 homers in its first 34 games. The Cardinal has hit 22 of the dingers in its first nine conference contests as half of them came when Stanford banged out a series season-high 11 long balls in a three-game set at Oregon State (4/8 - 4/10). The power surge during Pac-10 play is part of the team's offensive explosion since returning from a 15-day break at Saint Mary's on March 23 as the Cardinal has hit 34 homers over its last 16 games.
LOWRIE AND ROMANCZUK APPEAR ON WATCH LISTS
Jed Lowrie (Baseball America, USA Baseball Golden Spikes) and Mark Romanczuk (Roger Clemens Award) appear on current high profile Player and Pitcher of the Year Watch Lists, respectively. Lowrie has emerged as the team's top offensive player as he leads the club in nearly every offensive category; including batting average (.397), homers (11), RBI (47), runs scored (44), triples (4), total bases (98), slugging percentage (.778), bases on balls (30), sacrifice flies (5) and multiple-RBI games (14). Defensively, Lowrie has made just six errors in his first 160 chances for a .963 fielding percentage while starting all 34 games at either shortstop or second base. Romanczuk leads the team in wins (7-1) and strikeouts (56) in 62.2 innings, while posting a 4.16 ERA that is the best among Cardinal starters. Lowrie (NCBWA Co-Hitter of the Week, March 2) and Romanczuk (Pac-10 Pitcher of the Week, March 9) have already earned weekly recognition for their achievements this season.
ASH, HALL, MAYBERRY, O'HAGAN AND PUTNAM ALSO MAKING ALL-AMERICAN BIDS
Jonny Ash, Brian Hall, John Mayberry, Jr., David O'Hagan and Danny Putnam are all making strong cases for All-American honors along with Player/Pitcher of the Year Watch List selections Jed Lowrie and Mark Romanczuk. Ash ranks second on the club in both batting average (.372) and hits (51), adding four homers and 25 RBI. Hall has a current career-high 19-game hit streak going (3/5 - 4/18; .481, 38-79, 5 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 20 RBI, 7 SB) that has raised his average 161 points from a season-low .208 to its current .371. Hall also leads the club with 10 stolen bases, eight double and five sacrifice bunts, while contributing seven homers and 34 RBI. Mayberry ranks second on the club with 38 RBI, as well as third in homers (9) and fifth in batting average (.346). O'Hagan has put up amazing numbers out of the bullpen, posting a 5-0 record and saving a team-high four games with a 2.20 ERA in a team-high 13 appearances. He has struck out 44 batters in 41.0 innings and allowed just 26 hits with opponents hitting only .184 against him. Putnam has caught fire of late and now ranks second on the club with 10 homers, as well as third in both batting average (.359) and RBI (36).
FULD BREAKS SCHOOL'S ALL-TIME RUNS RECORD
Sam Fuld scored the 245th run of his Stanford career versus California on April 17 break the school's all-time runs scored record, surpassing former all-time record holder (Mark Davis, 244, 1983-86). Fuld is also among Stanford's all-time leaders in hits (328, #3), at bats (963, #3), triples (16, #3T), doubles (58, #6T) and games played (234, #7).
SAVE DROUGHT
After logging 10 saves in its first 19 wins to threaten the pace of the school record 23 saves recorded in 2001, Stanford has logged just one save in its last nine victories and 11 games. David O'Hagan leads the way with four, while Blake Holler has picked up a pair. Jonny Dyer, Jeff Gilmore, Matt Manship, Kodiak Quick and Jeff Stimpson have one each.
THE NEW NINE
Nine players have made their first appearances in a game for the Cardinal this season. Blake Holler has been in the starting rotation for the last nine weekend series and is 3-2 with a 4.89 ERA, adding two saves in 10 appearances and eight starts while striking out 29 batters in 42.1 innings of work. Jeff Stimpson has become one of the team's top relievers, allowing just two runs and 11 hits in his first 20.2 collegiate innings for an 0.87 ERA as well as a team-low .159 batting average while striking out 18. Stimpson won his first collegiate game when he struck out a career-high six batters in 2.2 hitless innings at Oregon State on April 10 and picked up his first collegiate save with 2.0 innings of hitless relief work versus California on April 16. Ryan Seawell has 10 hits in his first 29 collegiate at bats for a .345 batting average in 13 games played and five starts, while also contributing two doubles and seven RBI. Adam Sorgi has started 14 of the team's first 30 games at shortstop and appeared in 18. Sorgi has a .220 batting average, a double and four RBI. Jim Rapoport has played in 17 games with five starts, contributing a .259 batting average, one triple and four RBI. Matt Leva has a 3-0 record and a 4.76 ERA in seven appearances and two starts. Greg Reynolds is 1-0 with a 4.91 ERA in 7.1 innings over four relief appearances. Ben Summerhays is hitting .200 with two hits in 10 at bats over eight games played off the bench and former student manager Cameron Matthews has played in four games, three as a pinch-runner and his first as a defensive player when he entered the game in right field during Stanford's most recent contest versus Santa Clara on April 13.
COMEBACK CREW
Stanford has come from behind at some point in 13 of its first 29 victories this season, coming back to win games when trailing by three or more runs heading into the eighth inning on three occasions. Brian Hall provided arguably the most dramatic moment of the season when his first career grand slam capped a seven-run Stanford ninth inning rally for a 10-6 victory over Kansas (2/15). Stanford trailed 7-3 at USC (3/6) before scoring four times in the top of the ninth inning to extend the game into extra innings and eventually take home an 8-7 win in 13 frames. Most recently, the Cardinal trailed 7-4 after seven innings at Oregon State (4/8) before scoring three runs in the eighth to tie the game and four more times in the ninth to win the contest.
WINNING BY A BUNCH
Despite having to come from behind in 13 of its 29 wins, 25 of the team's victories have come by three runs or more and 15 have been by five or more runs as Stanford has more than doubled its opponents' run production this season by a count of 307-146.
ERRORLESS EFFORTS
Stanford has played errorless baseball in 13 of its first 34 games this season, including a string of five straight errorless games from January 31 - February 8, as well as three in a row in a series at California (2/27 - 2/29), as well as three straight against three different teams in Cal Poly (3/28), San Jose State (3/30) and UCLA (4/2). Stanford is currently leading the Pac-10 with a .973 fielding percentage that would rank tied for second on the school's all-time list.
STANFORD TRAVELS TO SANTA CLARA BEFORE HOSTING WASHINGTON STATE NEXT WEEK
Stanford will end a string of four consecutive non-conference games by traveling to Saint Mary's next Tuesday, April 27 (6 pm, PT). The Cardinal will then return to Pac-10 action by hosting Washington State in a three-game series Friday-Sunday, April 30 - May 2 (6 pm, 1 pm, 1 pm, PDT).
OFFENSIVE REPORT
Stanford has averaged 9.0 runs per contest, while hitting a season-high and Pac-10 leading .326 through its first 34 games. Stanford has been even better in Pac-10 action, hitting .368 in nine conference games and averaging 9.6 runs per contest. The team also has 22 of its Pac-10 leading 54 homers in its nine conference games, as well as 34 in 16 games since returning from its 15-day break at Saint Mary's on March 23. National Player of the Year candidate Jed Lowrie leads the club in nearly every offensive category - batting average (.397), runs scored (44), triples (4), homers (11), RBI (47), total bases (98), slugging percentage (.778), bases on balls (30), on-base percentage (.509), sacrifice flies (5), extra-base hits (22) and multiple-RBI games (14). Lowrie is also tied on the club for second with seven doubles and third with 50 hits. Danny Putnam now leads the team with 52 hits, while ranking second in homers (10), as well as third in RBI (36) and fourth in batting average (.359). Putnam was the second consecutive Stanford player to win Pac-10 Player of the Week honors when he picked up the honor for the second time in his career on April 20 after hitting .500 (8-16) with a triple, three homers and 10 RBI in four Cardinal wins last week. Jonny Ash is second on the squad in both batting average (.372) and hits (51). Brian Hall, who leads the club with 10 stolen bases, eight doubles and five sacrifice bunts, has been on a hot stretch with a current career-high 19-game hit streak (3/5 - 4/18; .481, 38-79, 5 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 20 RBI, 7 SB) that has raised his average 163 points from .208 to its current season-high .371. Hall is also fourth on the club with seven homers and 34 RBI. John Mayberry ranks second on the team in RBI (38) and third in homers (9), as well as fifth in batting average (.346) despite a current 4-for-22 slump. Ryan Seawell (.345) and Donny Lucy (.336) are the team's other players hitting .300 or better. Lucy has a current 11-game hit streak, while Sam Fuld (.284, 1 HR, 18 RBI, 4 SB) has a current season-best 10-game streak. Lucy has also been hit by a team-high nine pitches. Stanford scored a season-high 18 runs at Santa Clara (3/23), and has twice posted a season-high 18 hits (at USC, 3/6; vs. California, 4/17). Stanford had season-highs of five homers at Fresno State (2/7) and Oregon State (4/10). Stanford has scored in double figures 15 times and has 10 or more hits in 27 of its first 34 games, including 10 in a row and 19 of its last 22.
PITCHING REPORT
Stanford leads the Pac-10 with a 3.91 ERA after allowing just nine earned runs for a 3.00 ERA in its most recent series versus California (4/16 - 4/18). Mark Romanczuk leads the club in victories (7-1) and strikeouts (56), while co-leading the team along with Jeff Gilmore with 10 games starts. Romanczuk also has the lowest ERA (4.04) among starters. Gilmore, who tossed the first complete game of his career and the first by a Stanford pitcher this season in his most recent start versus California (4/17) is 6-1 with a 4.57 ERA, while leading the team with 63.0 innings of work and striking out 39. David O'Hagan has been stellar out of the bullpen with a 5-0 record and four saves, while leading the Pac-10 with a 2.20 ERA and posting an opponents batting average of just .184. O'Hagan has struck out 44 batters in 41.0 innings and leads the Cardinal with 13 appearances. Blake Holler and Matt Leva have contributed three wins each, while Jonny Dyer, Mark Jecmen, Matt Leva, Kodiak Quick, Jeff Stimpson and Greg Reynolds one a piece. Stimpson (1-1, 1 SV) has an 0.87 ERA with 18 strikeouts in his 20.2 innings of work over 11 appearances out of the bullpen, allowing just 11 hits for a team-low opponents batting average of .159. Holler has added two saves, while Dyer, Gilmore, Matt Manship and Quick have one each.
DEFENSIVE REPORT
Stanford leads the Pac-10 with a .973 fielding percentage, which would rank tied for second on the school's all-time list. Stanford has played errorless baseball in 13 of its first 34 games. The Cardinal made just three errors in its first eight games as its fielding percentage reached as high as .991 after a five-game errorless string (1/31 - 2/8). Stanford also played an errorless contest versus Kansas (2/14), as well as three straight errorless contests with a perfect defensive series at California (2/27 - 2/29) and then three more in games versus Cal Poly (3/28), San Jose State (3/30) and UCLA (4/2). John Mayberry, Jr. leads the club with 321 putouts and has made just two errors in his team-high 336 defensive chances. Mayberry also had a single-game team-high of 17 putouts at USC (3/6). Jed Lowrie has a team-high 103 assists and has made just six errors in his first 34 starts at either shortstop or second base for a .963 fielding percentage. Jonny Ash and Adam Sorgi had team-high-tying seven-assist games versus Cal State Fullerton (2/1) and Cal Poly (3/27), respectively. Stanford has turned 33 double plays this season, including a season-high three at Fresno State (2/8), versus Kansas (2/15) and versus Texas (2/22).
STANFORD HAS PICKED UP THREE 50-WIN SEASONS IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS
Stanford has won 50 or more games in three of the last four years to run its total of 50-win campaigns in school history to six. The Cardinal won a school record 59 contests in 1990. The 1987 CWS championship squad posted 53 victories, while the 2001 and 2003 teams picked up 51 wins. The Cardinal won an even 50 games in 1999 and 2000.
CARDINAL LOOKING TO EXTEND RECORD STRING OF 40-WIN SEASONS TO 10
Stanford will be looking to extend its school record string of 40-win seasons to 10 in 2004. The last time Stanford didn't win 40 games was when the club finished 27-28 in 1993.
2004 PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN HONORS
Four Stanford players have earned 2004 Preseason All-American honors. Sam Fuld picked up a pair of First Team honors (Baseball America, NCBWA), as well as Second Team (Baseball America) and honorable mention (CollegeBaseballInsider.com). John Mayberry, Jr. earned Second Team recognition from Baseball America. Danny Putnam was a First Team selection by Baseball America and CollegeBaseballInsider.com, as well as Third Team NCBWA selection, while Mark Romanczuk was named a Third Team Preseason All-American by Baseball America and the NCBWA and received honorable mention recognition from CollegeBaseballInsider.com.
WEEKLY EMAIL LIST
If you are a member of the media and would like to receive Stanford Baseball press releases and other media information on Stanford Baseball via email, please send an email to Kyle McRae with the email address you would like the press release sent to.
STANFORD HEAD COACH MARKMARQUESS
One of the nation's premier collegiate coaches and the winningest coaching in Stanford Baseball history, Mark Marquess is in his 28th season at the helm of the Cardinal in 2004 with a 1173-556-5 (.678) record in 1734 career games, as well as even more impressive marks in the postseason (105-46, .695), and Pac-10 (466-296, .613). Marquess entered the 2004 season ranked 19th on the NCAA's all-time Division I victory list and 46th on the all-time winning percentage list for Division I coaches. For active coaches, he began the season ninth in victories and 15th in winning percentage. He became the 23rd coach in the history of NCAA Division I baseball to reach the 1000-win mark with a victory over Florida State on February 9, 2001. Just over two years later, he picked up win No. 1100 versus Nevada on February 17, 2003. He won his 100th career postseason game in Stanford's NCAA Super Regional clinching victory over Long Beach State (6/7/03). The 1969 Stanford graduate has led the Cardinal to two CWS titles and three runner-up showings in five CWS championship appearances, as well as 13 College World Series trips, five NCAA Super Regional titles, 13 NCAA Regional championships and 11 Pac-10 crowns (includes Southern Division and shared titles). Stanford has also qualified for the NCAA Tournament 21 times in the first 27 years under Marquess. He has been named NCAA Coach of the Year three times and has received Pac-10 or Pac-10 Southern Division Coach of the Year honors on nine occasions, most recently with his selection in 2003. The Cardinal has had 26 winning campaigns in 27 seasons prior to this season under his leadership and finished either first or second in the prestigious Pacific-10 (formerly Pac-10 Southern Division) 21 times in the last 23 years. Stanford has had 112 players drafted by professional baseball in the past 19 seasons, including 14 first round selections in the last 17 years. A member of the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, Marquess was the head coach of the 1988 United States Olympic baseball team that captured the gold medal. Marquess was also an accomplished football and baseball standout on The Farm and is a member of the Stanford Athletic Hall of Fame. He is one of only six collegiate baseball head coaches to have both played and coached in the College World Series. Marquess was the starting first baseman and a First Team All-American on Stanford's 1967 CWS squad and played four seasons of minor league baseball with the Chicago White Sox organization.
COMMENTS FROM MARKMARQUESS
(on sweeping California and the team's 16-game win streak over the Golden Bears)
"It was a tough weekend with some good games. The first two games were very tight, and it was a tough series. I'm pleased we won two-of-three."
(on Stanford's 29-5 overall record and 7-2 league mark)
"It's a great start for us, but there is a long way to go. Every team in our conference is capable of beating each other."
(on the team's home run power)
"It's great that we've hit as many home runs as we have, but you have to be very careful with that. If you try to hit a lot of home runs, you can get yourself into problems."
(on Sam Fuld tying Stanford's all-time runs record)
"Sam Fuld has been one of our key players throughout his career, and he's worked hard for this."
(on Saint Mary's)
"I was very impressed with Saint Mary's when we played them earlier in the year. They played very well and got a lot of hits (14) off our pitching staff. It was a tight game, and we were fortunate we hit four home runs to help us win it."
(on Sacramento State)
"Sacramento State always plays us well."
STANFORD COACHING STAFF
Dean Stotz is in his 28th campaign with Stanford Baseball and his fifth season as associate head coach after he was promoted to the position prior to the 2000 campaign. Stotz served for 23 years as an assistant. Stotz currently coaches third base while also handling various offensive and defensive aspects of the game. Tom Kunis is in his fifth season as Stanford's pitching coach, while Dave Nakama is in his fifth year overall as a Stanford assistant coach.
STANFORD BASEBALL HISTORY
Now in its 111th season, Stanford's storied baseball program has had many highlights since the program began in 1892 ... Stanford has won two NCAA titles (1987, `88) and made 15 appearances in the College World Series, also finishing as the runner-up on three occasions (2000, `01, `03) ... Stanford has also won five NCAA Super Regional titles ... Stanford has qualified for the NCAA Tournament 24 times ... Stanford has won 19 conference championships ... Stanford began the 2004 season with 38 winning seasons in the last 39 campaigns and 55 in its last 57 seasons ... Stanford has won 50 or more games four times in the last five years and six times in school history ... Stanford has won 40 or more games in a school record nine consecutive years and 18 times in school history ... Stanford has an all-time record of 2406-1489-32 (.617) ... A total of 69 former Stanford players have became Major League Baseball players with 12 suiting up in an MLB uniform in 2003 (Jeff Austin - Cincinnati Reds; Joe Borchard, Chicago White Sox; Eric Bruntlett - Houston Astros; Jody Gerut - Cleveland Indians; Jeffrey Hammonds - Milwaukee Brewers, San Francisco Giants; Rick Helling - Baltimore Orioles, Florida Marlins; A.J. Hinch, Detroit Tigers; Dave McCarty - Boston Red Sox, Oakland A's; Jason Middlebrook - New York Mets; Mike Mussina - New York Yankees; Justin Wayne - Florida Marlins; Jason Young - Colorado Rockies) and Bruntlett, Gerut and Young making their debut last season ... Stanford has also had 14 players selected in the first round of the MLB First-Year Player Draft in the last 17 years ... Stanford has boasted 44 All-Americans that have combined to win 54 All-American honors ... Stanford has garnered three NCAA Players of the Year in Jeff Austin (1998), David McCarty (1991) and Steve Dunning (1970) ... Stanford has had an even 100 players earn a combined 133 All-Conference honors ... Six Stanford players earned All-Pac-10 honors in each of the last two seasons, breaking the previous mark of five previously set in 1985, `90 and `94.