Cal nearly got on the board in the top of the eighth. With two outs, Cal got three straight runners on base against Inman to load the bases and put the go-ahead run in scoring position, but junior closer David Stringer struck out Blake Smith on a nasty curve ball to end the inning. Stringer got the Bears to go down in order in the ninth to earn his fifth save in Stanford's last five ballgames and his sixth of the year. Stringer isn't getting much national press now, but if he keeps this up, the attention will come.

Both teams played rediculously good defense, with the exception of Stanford's three errors. I know that sounds kind of foolish, but Stanford's Joey August made what was probably a game-saving diving catch in the eighth hustling towards the line. Cal's Brett Munster and Josh Satin each robbed at least one hit in support of Ross.

All told, it was a heck of a ballgame. Not a lot of offense, but the two best pitching I've seen this season. Hopefully we'll get more of the same tomorrow in the warm early-March sun. I'll be back with a post before first pitch and after the final out.