May 13, 2000
For the second day in a row, the fourth-ranked Arizona State Sun Devils put on a hitting clinic while defeating Washington 17-5 tonight at Packard Stadium. ASU runs its record to 39-12 overall, 14-6 in league play, while the Huskies fall to 25-25, 7-13 in Pac-10 action.
The Sun Devils are currently a half game behind the conference leaders, Stanford and UCLA. UCLA pulled even with Stanford today with a 5-3 win over Arizona.
With tonight's win, ASU head coach Pat Murphy collects his 600th career victory.
Washington got on the board first scoring a run in the top of the first when Todd Linden doubled home Ed Erickson.
ASU would answer with one run in the bottom of the inning as first baseman Mitch Jones tripled home rightfielder Jeff Duncan.
The Devils would score in every inning except the bottom of the eighth to put the game out of reach. The Huskies pulled within two runs in the fourth inning but never got any closer.
Reliever Franco Pezely (7-2) picked up the win allowing only one unearned run on one hit in five innings of work. Pezely notched a career-high 10 strikeouts on the night. Starter Jason Fingers went three-plus innings, allowing three earned runs on nine hits with three strikeouts in the no-decision.
Leftfielder Mel Stocker notched four hits in five at bats with three runs scored and three RBI to lead the Devils. Senior Mitch Jones went 3-for-6 with three RBI as well. Shortstop Dennis Wyrick and third baseman Jeff Phelps had three hits a piece while Jeff Duncan, Brooks Conrad, Phil Downing contributed two hits each.
ASU batters were hit twice during the game, bringing the season total to 100, one shy of the Pac-10 single-season record, held by Washington (101 in 1998). The 100 HBP ranks sixth in the NCAA record books.
Taking the loss for the Huskies was starter Jeff Carlsen (6-3) who lasted three-plus innings, allowing eight runs (six earned) on nine hits with one strikeout.
For Washington, Todd Linden, Jay Garthwaite and Michael Done collected two hits each toward the Husky effort.
The Sun Devils and Huskies complete the three-game conference series on Sunday with a 1 p.m. game at Packard Stadium. Freshman right-hander Jered Liebeck (1-1, 4.15 ERA) is scheduled to make the start for Arizona State. Washington will send lefty Taylor Grant (2-4, 8.02 ERA) to the mound. For ticket information please contact the ASU ticket office at 480-965-2381.