May 2, 1998

STANFORD, Calif.-- Top-ranked Stanford eliminated #13 Arizona State from the Pacific-10 Conference race and moved one step closer to clinching their second straight league championship by defeating the visiting Sun Devils 4-3 before 1,882 at Stanford's Sunken Diamond.

The Cardinal, now 39-8-1 overall, improved to 20-6 in league play with four games remaining. ASU, 33-19 overall, dropped to 18-10 in league play with only two conference games remaining on their schedule. The two teams meet in the series finale tomorrow at Stanford at 1:00 pm.

Junior right hander Chad Hutchinson improved his record to 9-3 with an impressive performance today. He worked eight innings and gave up eight hits, three runs, two earned runs, walked three and struck out eight. Freshman Justin Wayne recorded his sixth save of the season by pitching the ninth inning.

Trailing 4-2 in the ninth, ASU scored one run and had the game-tying run thrown out at the plate. Jeff Phelps led off the inning with a single, forcing Wayne in the game to replace Hutchinson. Michael Collins then singled and both runners advanced to second and third on a wild pitch by Wayne. With one out, Willie Bloomquist singled to center, scoring Phelps from third. Collins was thrown out at the plate on a close play after Cardinal center fielder Jody Gerut threw a strike to the plate.

Stanford took an early 3-0 lead in the first inning off ASU starter Phill Lowery (8-5). Edmund Muth hit the first pitch of the game over the right field fence for his 12th homer of the year. Josh Hochgesang reached on an ASU error and John Gall followed with his 11th home run of the season. Stanford scored an insurance run in eighth when Gall doubled with one out and Joe Borchard singled him home with two outs.

Pacific-10 Conference

Stanford 4, Arizona State 3
Arizona State   000-100-101--3-10-1
Stanford        300-000-01x--4- 7-1

Lowery, Friedberg (8) and Jones. Hutchinson, Wayne (9) and Salter, Alvarado (5). WP - Hutchinson (9-3). LP - Lowery (8-5). Save - Wayne (6). 2B - Leon (ASU), Gall (S). HR - Muth (S), 1st inning, solo; Gall (S), 1st inning, two-run. T - 2:40. A - 1,882