March 17, 2000
Junior Chad Pennington pitched seven shutout innings with 11 strikeouts as No. 9 Arizona State defeated the University of Maine 19-8 this evening at Packard Stadium. The Sun Devils improve to 22-6 on the year while the Black Bears fall to 1-9.
ASU scored five of their 19 runs in the bottom of the second to get on the scoreboard first.
Jeff Phelps led off the inning with an infield single. Brooks Conrad singled to left centerfield, moving Phelps to third. Mike Lopez singled to leftfield, scoring Phelps. Conrad and Lopez advanced to third and second respectively on a Brendan Hines groundout. Dennis Wyrick walked to load the bases. Jonah Martin tripled to right centerfield to clear the bases. Martin scored on a passed ball.
Winning pitcher Chad Pennington (5-0) tied his career high with 11 strikeouts on the night. The righthanded pitcher scattered five hits over seven scoreless innings.
Taking the loss for the Black Bears was starter Eric Johnson (0-3) who lasted 5.0 innings allowing nine runs on eight hits with eight walks.
Centerfielder Jeff Duncan went 2-for-4 including an inside-the-park homerun. Martin, Lopez and Trent Pratt each collected three RBI on the night. Conrad extended his hitting streak to 16 games with a 2-for-3 day at the plate. Casey Myers had a 2-for-4 performance that extended his current hitting streak to 12.
For Maine, designated hitter Raymond Goirigolzarri went 2-for-4 with three RBI. Joe Drapeau, Jon Hambelton and Quin Peel each had two hits for the Black Bears.
The Sun Devils and Black Bears close out the four-game series tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at Packard Stadium. Lefty Will Waldrip (5-1) is expected to take the mound for Arizona State in game one. For ticket information, please contact the ASU ticket office at 480-965-2381.