Feb. 26, 2000
Sophomore lefty Franco Pezely pitched two shutout innings to secure a 9-7 win for No. 16 Arizona State over New Mexico this evening at Packard Stadium. The Devils improve to 14-4 on the season while the Lobos fall to 8-9.
New Mexico struck first in the top of the first inning with two runs but ASU countered with four in the bottom of the second to take the lead. The lead seesawed back and forth until the bottom of the eighth inning when the Devils scored two runs to take the lead for good.
Shortstop Dennis Wyrick led off the inning with a single to rightfield. Third baseman Mike Lopez laid down a sacrifice bunt moving Wyrick to second. Rightfielder Jonah Martin was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. Leftfielder Mitch Jones singled down the leftfield line, scoring Wyrick. Martin moved to third on a wild pitch. With runners at the corners, catcher Casey Myers singled to rightfield scoring Martin.
Reliever Franco Pezely (2-1) picked up the win for the Devils, pitching 2.0 shutout innings with two strikeouts. Pezely retired the last six batters in order. Starter Jon Switzer went 5.0 innings, allowing five runs on five hits with nine strikeouts in a no-decision.
Junior Casey Myers went 3-for-5 at the plate with a run scored and a RBI. Brooks Conrad had a 2-for-3 showing with two runs scored and two RBI. Wyrick went 1-for-2 with two RBI and a run scored. Mitch Jones added two hits as well.
Taking the loss for the Lobos was reliever Dan Reardon who pitched 1.2 innings, allowing three runs on six hits with no strikeouts. Aaron Sisk, Scott Candeleria and Dee Dennis each contributed two hits to the Lobos cause.
The Sun Devils will close out play in the Packard Classic tomorrow at 1 p.m. against Southern Utah. For ticket information, please call the Sun Devil ticket office at 480-965-2381.