Chad Hutchinson led Stanford to a 19-1 win over Minnesota.

Stanford Outslugs Minnesota

Baseball records 23 hits in win.

May 22, 1998

STANFORD, Calif. -- The top-seeded Stanford Cardinal (42-13-1) put on a hitting display, pounding out 19 runs on 23 hits and scoring in every inning except the eight inning on the way to a 19-1 victory over No.5 seed Minnesota (45-15). The Gophers end their 1998 season after having lost their first game of the West Regional, 8-2 to No. 2 seed Alabama Thursday.

Stanford jumped out of the gate by scoring six runs in the first two innings off of Minnesota starter Dan McGrath (9-3), who only lasted 1.3 innings with eight hits, six runs, no walks, and two strikes. The Gophers ended up going through seven pitchers and were also hurt by commiting six errors.

The winning pitcher for Stanford was starter Chad Hutchinson, who improved his record to 10-5 by throwing 5.0 innings with four hits, one run, one walk and six strikeouts. Hutchinson did not give up a run until the fifth inning. It was an elimination game for the Cardinal as they had been upset No. 6 seed Loyola Marymount Thursday night, 6-2. Minnesota's run was a solo HR by Rob Quinlan.

Stanford's 23 hits were a season-high and three players- Jody Gerut, John Gall and Joe Borchard had four-hit games. The Cardinal started off in impressive fashion with Gall hitting a two-run homer in the first inning and Borchard later hitting a solo homer in the first. Gerut finished the day 4-for-6 with two RBI, Gall was 4-for-6 with three RBI and Borchard was 4-gor-5 with three RBI. Other top hitters for Stanford included Edmund Muth (2-for-5, three RBI) and John Salter (3-for-5, three RBI).

"This was a big win for us," said Stanford head coach Mark Marquess. "Chad (Hutchinson) gave us five good innings. We were able to limit his pitches so we can use him again this weekend if we make it that far."

Stanford   331  134  103  x  19  23  0
Minnesota  000  010  000  x   1   5  6

WP: Hutchinson (10-5)     LP: McGrath (9-3)
2B: Gall 2 (24), Borchard 2 (20)
3B: Day (3), Salter (3)
HR: Muth (15), Gall (15), Borchard 2 (12), Quilan (25)
Battery: Hutchinson, Cogan, Jacobson and Salter (Stan.) McGrath, Dobis, Wagner, Freeman, Werner, Kitzerow, DeWitt and Negen, Beaulieu (Minn.)

POST-GAME QUOTES

Stanford Head Coach Mark Marquess:
"This was a big win for us. Chad gave us five good innings. We were able to limit his pitches so he could throw again this weekend if we make it that far."

"We were out to prove something to ourself. It was good to bounce back the way we did after last night's loss."

"We knew we had to pick up our game. We were hoping that we would break out of this slump and Chad (Hutchinson) helped us do that."

Chad Hutchinson:
"My arm recovers pretty quickly. I only threw 68 pitches today so I feel I can come back on Sunday."

Minnesota Head Coach John Anderson:
"I thought Stanford was very focused and determined today. They played to their ability and we played our worst game of the year. I don't think the New York Yankees could have beaten Stanford today."

"We've been on the road six of the last seven weeks and that might have caught up to us. I didn't see the spring in our step that we've had in recent past."

"From where we were at the end of last year to now, I'm proud of what we have accomplished. This experience is a good eye opener for our program."