March 30, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
STANFORD CARDINAL (7-11) at PACIFIC TIGERS (10-12)
Monday, March 30 5:35 p.m. Klein Family Field (Stockton, CA)
RHP Danny Sandbrink (0-1, 788) vs. RHP David Hovey (0-0, 0.00)
STANFORD CARDINAL vs. SANTA CLARA BRONCOS (10-11)
Wednesday, April 1 5:00 p.m. Klein Field at Sunken Diamond (Stanford, CA)
Both clubs are undecided
All times Pacific; every game is broadcast on KZSU (90.1 FM) and gostanford.com
Stanford Visits Pacific, Hosts Santa Clara in Midweek Games
Prior to resuming Pac-10 play with its first trip to Eugene, OR in 35 years, the Stanford Cardinal (7-11) will visit the Pacific Tigers (10-12) Monday night before hosting the Santa Clara Broncos (10-11) Wednesday night. First pitch for Monday night's contest in Stockton, CA is set for 5:35 p.m. PT, while the Wednesday night tilt at Klein Field at Sunken Diamond is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. PT.
Stanford is coming off its first Pac-10 series win of the year, as the Cardinal won Sunday's rubber match with Washington to take two of three games in the series. The Cardinal has now won three of its past four games and four of its last six contests.
Pacific opened Big West play by sweeping visiting UC Davis over the weekend, while Santa Clara was swept at home by Loyola Marymount to open its West Coast Conference slate.
Following the two midweek contests, Stanford will head north to face Oregon in Eugene for the first time since 1974. The Cardinal and Ducks will square off in a three-game, Pac-10 series April 3-5.
Broadcast Information
All 56 of Stanford's regular season games, and any postseason contests, will be carried live on the home of Cardinal baseball for nearly 51 years - student station KZSU 90.1 FM. The KZSU broadcast is available on the internet either at www.kzsulive.stanford.edu or via a link on www.gostanford.com.
Matt Hodson will be behind the mic for KZSU for tonight's game at Pacific.
"Nine" Moves Into Ninth
With Stanford's 13-3 victory Friday night over Washington, head coach Mark Marquess posted his 1,332nd career win - the ninth-most ever by an NCAA Division I head baseball coach.
Marquess, who took over the reins of his alma mater prior to the 1977 season, has compiled a 1,333-680-7 (.662) record during his 33 campaigns as Stanford's head coach. With Friday night's win, Marquess snapped a tie for ninth with Larry Cochell, who logged a 1,331-813-3 (.621) ledger over 39 years with seven schools. Next on the list is Rod Dedeaux, who ranks eighth in NCAA Division I history with 1,342 victories over 44 seasons at USC (1942-47 and 1949-86).
Stanford-Pacific Series
Stanford and Pacific have met 60 times since 1959 (when Stanford's single-game scores are available), and the Cardinal owns a 51-8-1 advantage. Stanford took three of four games in 2008, including two consecutive wins at Pacific's Klein Family Field on March 22 (7-3) and March 24 (14-0). In fact, the Cardinal has won its last five contests in Stockton since the clubs starting playing on an annual basis in 2005.
Stanford-Santa Clara Series
Stanford has gone 123-73-1 against Santa Clara since 1959, including a 3-1 mark in 2008. The Cardinal captured both meetings on The Farm last year, winning 3-1 on April 14 and 15-4 on May 12.
Cardinal Clips
Stanford at the Plate
Stanford on the Mound
Stanford with the Gloves
Stanford Bats Are Coming Alive...
Stanford has enjoyed its best six-game stretch of the season in the last week-plus of action, going 4-2. The run began with the Cardinal's come-from-behind, 6-5 win in 12 innings at California March 22.
Not coincidentally, the Stanford offense has heated up during the span, scoring 46 runs - an average of 7.7 per game. The Cardinal is hitting an even .300 as a team (66-for-220), while slugging at a .500 mark and reaching base at a .399 clip.
...While the Pitchers Lock Down
While the Stanford offense is hitting at a .300 clip over the last six games, Cardinal pitching has held the opposition to a paltry .205 average (41-for-200). While allowing only 41 hits in its 56.0 innings during the stretch, Stanford has also logged 57 strikeouts against 26 walks.
Stanford has posted a 4.50 team ERA (28er, 56.0ip) since March 22, including a 3.68 mark (12er, 29.1ip) by its starters.
Series Scoop
After taking two of three games from Washington over the weekend, Stanford is now an impressive 15-5 in its last 20 weekend sets - a stretch which dates back to the final month of the 2006 season.
Stanford is 9-3 in Pac-10 sets over the stretch, including a 6-2 mark in 2008. The Cardinal has split its first two Pac-10 series in 2009, dropping two of three at Cal before rebounding this past weekend against the Huskies.
Iron Man is Heating Up
Sophomore shortstop Jake Schlander, who has started at SS for each of Stanford's 85 games during his collegiate career, went 7-for-11 with five runs scored, a triple, a home run and four RBI against Washington. After dropping down a sacrifice bunt in his second plate appearance Friday night against the Huskies, Schlander had hits in five consecutive at-bats - his final three on Friday and first two on Saturday. During that span, he hit Stanford's first triple of the season (a two-run three-bagger Friday night) and connected on his first collegiate home run - a solo shot Saturday in the second inning. In Sunday's rubber game, Schlander went 2-for-4, scored three runs and was a factor in Stanford's four-run third, three-run sixth and three-run eighth.
In 2008, Schlander became the first Stanford freshman to start every game at shortstop since games played became an officially kept statistic in 1960. The Scottsdale, Ariz. native was the first Cardinal rookie to start each contest at any position since current San Diego Padres outfielder Jody Gerut did so in 1996.
Setting the Table
Sophomore second baseman Colin Walsh has been Stanford's leadoff hitter for each of the past nine games, and has posted a .500 on-base percentage in those contests. He has gone 12-for-35 (.343) during the stretch, with eight runs scored, two doubles, six RBI, 10 walks, one hit-by-pitch and two stolen bases. He has reached base safely at least once in eight of those contests. In addition, Walsh has played flawless defense at second base, handling all 42 chances without an error.
In Sunday's rubber game against Washington, Walsh ignited an 11-run day for the Cardinal offense by setting a career high for hits and tying his career standard for RBI. The switch-hitter went 4-for-5 with two runs scored, a double and three driven in.
Walsh has hit safely in 16 of his last 22 starts dating back to 2008, going 29-for-84 (.345) with 19 runs scored, six doubles, 14 RBI and 17 walks.
Mr. Consistency
Throughout his four years on The Farm, senior outfielder Joey August has been a picture of consistency at the plate. Stanford's active leader in batting average and hits, he owns a career .312 batting average (169-for-542) in 161 games (122 starts). He is also a lifetime .330 hitter (69-for-209) in 53 career Pac-10 contests.
After having his six-game hitting streak snapped Saturday, August was back at it again on Sunday with a solo home run in Stanford's 11-0 victory over Washington. The left-handed batter went 9-for-26 (.346) with six runs scored, two doubles, a home run, five RBI and four walks during his hitting streak. Friday night, the Salem, OR native belted his first career grand slam to highlight Stanford's eight-run, seventh-inning outburst.
Gaylord Getting it Done
Junior infielder Adam Gaylord has hit safely in eight of the 10 games he has had an at-bat, going 11-for-30 (.367) with two doubles and five RBI. He has started nine contests (seven at third base and two at second), and already has nine more hits than he did in 2008 (one, in only 15 at-bats).
During his current four-game hitting streak, Gaylord is 6-for-14 (.429) with three runs scored, a double and two RBI.
Power From the Northwest
Sophomore right fielder Kellen Kiilsgaard has been swinging a hot bat of late, hitting at a .306 clip (15-for-49) with four doubles, five home runs, 16 RBI, a .694 slugging percentage and a .414 on-base mark over his last 13 games (since Feb. 28). In the four games since Stanford returned from its finals break last Saturday, Kiilsgaard is 9-for-27 (.333) with three doubles, three home runs, 11 RBI and seven walks.
After getting only three at-bats as a true freshman in 2008, Kiilsgaard ranks fourth in the Pac-10 with an overall .684 slugging percentage and is seventh with six home runs. He is also batting .298 overall (17-for-57), has 17 RBI and owns a .412 on-base mark.
Kiilsgaard had the best day of his young career to lift the Cardinal to a 6-5, 12-inning win March 22 at California. With Stanford trailing 4-3 in the ninth, he led off the top of the inning with an opposite-field home run to tie the game 4-4, then hammered a mammoth solo shot leading off the 11th that gave the Cardinal a 5-4 lead. With the game tied again, he drew a two-out, bases loaded walk in the 12th to push Stanford ahead for good at 6-5. Kiilsgaard also delivered a two-out, RBI-double in the fifth that gave Stanford a 2-0 lead. All told, he reached base safely six times during his first collegiate multi-homer game, going 3-for-4 with three walks and four RBI to set a career high in each category. He then matched his career standard by driving in four runs in the Cardinal's 11-0 win over Washington on Sunday.
Kiilsgaard, a two-sport star at Auburn (Wash.) High School, was a redshirt freshman on Stanford's 2007 football squad, but gave up the gridiron to concentrate solely on baseball.
Swing and a Miss
Sophomore RHP Drew Storen has continued to demonstrate the electric stuff that made him a freshman All-American in 2008, as he has compiled 19 strikeouts in just 10.1 innings of work - an average of 16.55 punchouts per 9.0 innings. Storen has allowed just one walk thus far in 2009, while forging a 1-0 record with one save and a 2.61 ERA (3er, 10.1ip) in a staff-high eight relief appearances.
For his career, Storen has 69 strikeouts against just 16 walks in 66.2 innings pitched.
Punishing Pac-10 Pitching
Stanford has produced its best offensive production when it matters most - in Pac-10 play. The Cardinal has hit a Pac-10-best .302 (67-for-222) in its first six conference games, while scoring 47 runs (7.8 per game). Stanford hitters have hammered 24 extra-base hits against conference pitchers (12 doubles, two triples and 10 home runs) for a .509 slugging percentage, while drawing 34 walks en route to a .405 on-base mark.
From Walk-on to Winning Pitcher
Sophomore reliever Carey Schwartz, who attended Palo Alto High School and wished to someday play at Stanford, was a huge success story in 2008 by making the club as a walk-on. The story has become even better in 2009, as he ranks second among Cardinal relievers with a 4.32 ERA (4er, 8.1ip) and is tied for second with seven appearances. The side-arming reliever has been huge in clutch situations, stranding eight of his nine inherited runners (88.9%).
Schwartz earned his first career victory March 22 against, fittingly enough, California. He entered in the bottom of the 11th to face Bears cleanup hitter Mark Canha with runners at the corners, none out and Stanford clinging to a 5-4 lead. Although he yielded a game-tying sacrifice fly to Canha, he escaped further damage and recorded the first out of the 12th after the Cardinal had forged back ahead 6-5.
Fearnow Bullish Out of the `Pen
Senior right-hander Max Fearnow has been very impressive since moving to the Stanford bullpen, with a 1.17 ERA (1er, 7.2ip) over four relief outings. He has allowed just four hits in 26 at-bats (.154), with one walk and six strikeouts.
Fearnow earned the win March 25 at UC Davis with 3.0-innings of two-hit, shutout relief. After allowing a pair of singles in his first inning, he retired the final seven batters he faced as Stanford scored five runs.
Moon Rising
Junior IF/DH Min (Brian) Moon has helped key Stanford to a 3-1 record in the last four games by jumping on the first extended playing time of his career. Beginning when he pinch-hit in the DH spot during the first lineup turn March 25 at UC Davis, he has essentially started the last four contests and is 5-for-14 (.357) with five runs scored, a double, a home run and four RBI.
Moon hammered his first collegiate home run against the Aggies, a fifth-inning solo shot that snapped a scoreless tie.
Back for More
Stanford's 35-man roster includes 17 returning letterwinners from its 2008 College World Series club, a total that includes six starting position players, three starting pitchers and its closer.
The Cardinal has retained the services of the following starting position players: OF Joey August (Sr.), OF Toby Gerhart (Jr.), 3B Zach Jones (So.), 1B Brent Milleville (Sr.), SS Jake Schlander (So.) and OF Jeff Whitlow (Sr.). Please note that Gerhart and Whitlow spent a majority of last season in a platoon role.
RHP Max Fearnow (Sr.), RHP Jeffrey Inman (Jr.) and RHP Danny Sandbrink (So.) all saw significant time in the 2008 rotation, while closer Drew Storen (RHP - So). is back after a freshman All-America campaign.
A New Guard
On the flip side, 185 of Stanford's 615 at-bats have been taken by players who had fewer than 20 at-bats in 2008: Mike Garza (5 in 2009, high school in 2008); Adam Gaylord (30 in `09, 15 in `08); Christian Griffiths (13 in `09, HS in `08); J.J. Jelmini (3 in `09, 3 in `08); Jonathan Kaskow (42 in `09, 5 in `08); Kellen Kiilsgaard (57 in `09, 3 in `08); Kellen McColl (3 in `09, 0 in `08); Min (Brian) Moon (18 in `09, 0 in `08) and Wande Olabisi (14 in `09, 4 in `08).
Likewise, 74.0 of the Cardinal's 161.0 innings pitched have been handled by players who threw less than 20.0 frames in 2008: Brian Busick (2.0 in 2009, high school in 2008); Brett Mooneyham (19.1 in `09, HS in `08); Jordan Pries (22.2 in `09, HS in `08); Chris Reed (1.1 in `09, HS in `08); Carey Schwartz (8.1 in `09, 3.1 in `08); Scott Snodgress (9.0 in `09, HS in `08); Kyle Thompson (2.2 in `09, 0.0 in `08) and Brandt Walker (8.2 in `09, 6.0 in `08).
Inman Named to Golden Spikes Award Watch List; Third-Team All-America
Junior right-handed pitcher Jeffrey Inman has been named by USA Baseball as one of 50 players on the preseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List, while he is also a preseason third-team All-America selection by Baseball America.
Sponsored by Major League Baseball, the Golden Spikes Award is in its 32nd season honoring the top player in college baseball. The list will be paired down to 30 on May 26 and again to five finalists on June 2, while the winner will be announced in a July 15 awards show as part of MLB All-Star festivities in St. Louis.
Inman played a key role in Stanford's run to the 2008 College World Series, going 7-2 with a 4.27 ERA (34er, 71.2ip) in 16 games (13 starts) as a sophomore. He showed why he is considered among the nation's top pitchers during a stellar seven-outing, six-start stretch in March and April in which he went 5-0 with a 1.49 ERA (6er, 36.1ip). His final start of the season came at the College World Series, when he allowed just two runs and struck out five over 5.1 innings against eventual finalist Georgia. For the season, Inman held right-handed batters to a .246 average (35-for-142).
Inman followed his sophomore collegiate campaign by striking out 34 batters in just 31.1 innings for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox, and was tabbed by Baseball America as the ninth-best prospect in the 2008 Cape Cod League.
Storen Named to NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List
Stanford sophomore right-hander Drew Storen is one of 40 players selected to the initial watch list for the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award. The award is in its fifth season, and honors the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball.
Storen emerged as one of college baseball's premier closers during a stellar freshman campaign in 2008, going 5-3 with eight saves and a 3.51 ERA (22er, 56.1ip) in a club-high 31 relief outings. He was a first-team freshman All-America selection by Collegiate Baseball/Louisville Slugger, while he earned second-team honors from Rivals.com and third-team accolades from Ping!Baseball. The first-team All-Pac-10 performer was fourth in the league for saves (second among freshmen), while he tied for the seventh-highest single-season save total in Stanford history.
Storen logged a 3.3:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio during his rookie collegiate season, fanning 50 batters against only 15 walks. He also held opposing batters to a .257 average (53-for-206), including a paltry .229 mark to right-handed hitters (25-for-109).
Following Stanford's 2008 season, Storen served as the closer for the Cotuit Kettleers in the prestigious Cape Cod League. He posted five saves, a 2.76 ERA (5er, 16.1ip) and .200 average against (12-for-60) in 13 relief appearances, with 15 strikeouts against five walks.
From the Gridiron to the Diamond
Junior outfielder Toby Gerhart is the latest in a proud Stanford tradition of two-sport athletes. During the 2008 football season, the running back established Stanford's single-season rushing record with 1,136 yards. The bruising runner averaged 5.4 yards per carry (210 attempts), while scoring 15 rushing touchdowns - good for second in school history.
Professional Lineage
Stanford has eight players on its 35-man roster that has had a parent or grandparent play professional sports:
Joey August (father, Bill, was a quarterback with the NFL's San Francisco 49ers in 1975, but did not play in a game); Toby Gerhart (father, Todd, played in the USFL with the Denver Gold in 1985-86 and went to NFL training camp with the Minnesota Vikings in 1986 and Houston Oilers in 1987); Jonathan Kaskow (father, Chris, played men's doubles tennis at Wimbledon in 1977); Kellen Kiilsgaard (grandfather, Carl, played for the NFL's Chicago Cardinals in 1950); Michael Marshall (father, Mike, was a two-time World Series champion and played 11 MLB seasons from 1981-91 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets and Boston Red Sox); Kellen McColl (father, Milt was a two-time Super Bowl champion during an eight-year NFL career with the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Raiders from 1981-88; grandfather, Bill, played for the NFL's Chicago Bears from 1952-59; uncle, Duncan, was drafted by the NFL's Washington Redskins in 1977); Brett Mooneyham (father, Bill, pitched for the Oakland Athletics in 1986) and Jordan Pries (grandfather, Bud Daley, was a two-time World Series winner during a 10-year MLB career with the Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Athletics and New York Yankees from 1955-64).
Stanford Among the All-Time Best
Currently in its 116th season of college baseball, Stanford has posted the fifth-most wins of any NCAA Division I program with a 2,566-1,613-34 (.613) all-time record. That ledger includes 128 NCAA Tournament wins over 28 appearances, tied for the sixth-most all-time.
Leading the Pac
Since the Pac-10 disbanded the two-division system and realigned prior to the 1999 season, Stanford leads all conference teams with 438 wins, four league titles and six trips to the College World Series.
Cardinal Consistency
Stanford has finished at least .500 in 15 straight seasons, and in 31 of 32 campaigns under head coach Mark Marquess. The Cardinal has also advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 25 of the last 28 years (since 1982), while advancing to the College World Series 14 times over that span. By virtue of that success, players on 28 of the last 30 four-year graduating classes at Stanford have played in Omaha.