April 17, 2008

Final Stats

(Palo Alto, CA) - San Francisco fell to No. 10 Stanford 11-10 in 11 innings in Wednesday night's non-conference match up at Sunken Diamond. USF (21-15) had a three run lead going into bottom of the ninth, but the Cardinal (19-11-1) scored three in the frame to push the game into extra innings.

USF put up a quick three runs in the top of the first to take an early 3-0 lead. Senior second baseman Joey Railey walked to start the game. An out later, senior right fielder Kyle Morgan single up the middle, plating Railey. Senior first baseman Mitchell Bialosky, who has been on a tear as of late, homered to left, scoring Morgan.

Stanford tied it 3-3 in the second. With a runner on, freshman catcher Ben Clowe homered to left. Junior right fielder Jeff Whitlow tripled and scored on a single by freshman third baseman Zach Jones. The Cardinal then took the 5-3 lead with two more runs in the third.

That lead would only last one inning as the Dons put up two of their own in the fifth to make it 5-5. With one out, junior designated hitter Zach Kim doubled to left and scored on senior short stop Tavo Hall's single up the middle. Railey pushed Hall to third before freshman left fielder Connor Bernatz hit a run scoring sacrifice fly to left field.

After each team scored another run to make it 6-6, the Dons had a big seventh inning, plating four and taking a seemingly safe 10-6 lead. Railey walked and moved to third on Bernatz's double to left center. Morgan doubled to right scoring both Railey and Bernatz. Morgan advanced to third on a Bialosky ground out. After another ground out, sophomore catcher Ryan Lipkin was the first of three hit batsmen in the inning. Junior center fielder Bobby Ethel was hit by a pitch right after Lipkin to load the bases. Kim then smacked a double to center, scoring Morgan and Lipkin. Hall was the third hit batsmen of the inning, but a fly out by Railey would end the Dons rally.

Stanford did not plan on going quietly however as they scored one in the eighth and three in the ninth to tie it 10-10.

USF threatened in both the 10th and 11th innings. After an out in the 10th, Railey walked and moved to second on freshman left fielder Connor Bernatz's single to right field. But whatever rally the Dons had going ended when Railey was called out on a very questionable call trying to steal third base. Pinch hitter Drew Johnson then struck out to end the inning.

In the 11th, USF had a runner on second base but couldn't capitalize. Bialosky singled to right center to start the inning. With one out, Lipkin hit what looked like a sure double play, but Stanford junior second baseman Cord Phelps didn't get his foot on the bag before throwing the ball to first base. Lipkin was out one the play, but USF had one more try to bring Bialosky home. Ethel was intentionally walked to put runners on first and second, but freshman Stephen Yarrow struck out looking to end the threat.

In the bottom of the frame, two consecutive walks and a huge single to left field would close out the game. Junior first baseman Brent Mellville hit what everyone in and around Sunken Diamond was sure was a three run blast over the left field fence. Bernatz even climbed the wall, hoping to grab it, but the thick cold air dropped the ball right in front of the fence. Instead of a walk-off homerun, Mellville had to settle for a long walk-off single.

Bialosky had a great night at the plate, going 4-for-6 with a homerun, a double, two RBI and two runs scored, but he wasn't so lucky on the mound. Pitching in relief, Bialosky (1-5) earned the loss, allowing two earned runs off three hits, two walks and struck out one in 1.2 innings.

Junior left-hander Evan Fredrickson started the game, giving up six earned runs of seven hits, three walks, and struck out six Stanford batters.

Cardinal junior lefty Blake Hancock (1-0) earned the win, giving up just one hit, one walk and striking out three Dons in 1.2 innings.

Morgan went 2-for-5 with a double and three RBI. Kim went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI. Bernatz was 2-for-5 with a double and one RBI. Railey and Hall rounded out the Dons 12 hits.

USF plays three games in Santa Clara this weekend in West Coast Conference action. Friday's game is set for 7:00 PM at Stephen Schott Stadium.