Feb. 27, 2004

Box Score

BERKELEY, CA - Stanford broke a 8-8 tie by scoring three runs in the top of the seventh inning and went on to defeat the Cal baseball team, 12-9, Friday in a non-conference game at Evans Diamond. The Golden Bears fell to 7-7 on the year, while the top-ranked Cardinal improved to 11-2.

In a back-and-forth game, Stanford finally prevailed in the seventh. Cal junior Matt Swanson (0-1, 2.0 innings, three hits, three runs, one walk, two strikeouts) walked lead-off batter Brian Hall to begin the seventh inning. He was then able to get the next two outs before surrendering an RBI single up the middle to Sam Fuld and later a two-run triple to Jed Lowrie. The Cardinal added an insurance run in the ninth inning on a lead-off home run by Donny Lucy.

The winning pitcher for Stanford was junior reliever Jonny Dyer (1-0), who entered in the fifth inning and pitched 2.3 innings with four hits, one run and one strikeout. Senior closer David O'Hagan earned his third save of the season, pitching the final 2.0 innings with two hits, no runs, one walk and one strikeout. The hitting star for the Cardinal was Lowrie, who was 3-for-3 with three triples and four RBI. He had run-scoring triples in the third, fifth and seventh innings. Senior third baseman Jonny Ash (3-for-5, two RBI) also had three hits for Stanford and senior right fielder Brian Hall had a lead-off home run in the second inning.

The Bears did rally for five runs in the bottom of the fifth to take an 8-5 lead. Key hits for Cal were a double by junior second baseman David Nicholson, RBI singles from freshman center fielder Chris Errecart and senior catcher Chris Grossman, and a two-run homer by junior first baseman James Holder. Cal's other run in the fifth came on a wild pitch by Stanford reliever Kodiak Quick. Holder added an RBI single in the seventh inning as well.

Holder was a top hitter for the Bears on the day, going a career-high 4-for-5 with a double, home run and four RBI. Nicholson's hit extended his hitting streak to 18 games, carrying over from last year. Errecart and senior designated hitter David Weiner added two hits apiece for Cal. The Bears actually out-hit the Cardinal, 14-12.

The Bears will next host No. 1 ranked Stanford in the second game of the three-game non-conference series, Saturday, Feb. 28 at 1 p.m. at Evans Diamond.

Home Runs:

Stanford: Hall, solo home run in the second inning. Lucy, solo home run in the ninth inning.

Cal: Holder, two-run homer in the fifth inning.