Feb. 25, 2000
Senior leftfielder Mitch Jones hit two homeruns and collected seven RBI as the Sun Devils defeated Southern Utah 25-3 in seven innings this evening at Packard Stadium. Arizona State improves to 13-4 on the year, while the Thunderbirds fall to 3-3.
The Devils jumped out to the early lead in the bottom of the first inning. Third baseman Mel Stocker walked to lead off the inning. Junior Jonah Martin laid down a bunt single moving Stocker to second. With runners on first and second, SUU pitcher Mason Fox walked Mitch Jones to load the bases. Cleanup hitter Casey Myers was hit by a pitch, scoring Stocker from third. First baseman Jeff Phelps then hit his first homer of the season - a grand slam - clearing the bases.
ASU would score in every inning except the sixth en route to the 25-3 victory. The five homeruns hit by Sun Devils is one shy of the school record for most homers in a single game. Arizona State also hit three grand slams in the game (Phelps, Jones and Phil Downing).
Winning pitcher was starter Chad Pennington (3-0) who went 3.1 innings, allowing 1 hit, two runs while striking out four. Picking up his second save of the year was freshman Dennis Sarfate who pitched three innings, allowing one run on one hit with two stikeouts.
Starting pitcher for SUU Mason Fox (0-1) took the loss for the Thunderbirds lasting only 1.0 inning, giving up nine runs on five hits with two walks and a strikeouts.
Second baseman Tyler Petersen went 1-for-3 with a homerun for Southern Utah.
Action continues in the Packard Classic on Saturday with New Mexico taking on Southern Utah at 3 p.m. then Arizona State facing New Mexico at 7 p.m. For ticket information please call the ASU ticket office at 480-965-2381.