May 12, 2001
SEATTLE, Wash. -- Junior center fielder Chris Duffy capped a 3-for-6 game with six RBI with a grand slam home run in the top of the 10th inning and ASU head coach Pat Murphy picked up his 100th career Pac-10 win as the No. 19 Arizona State Sun Devils picked up a dramatic 11-6 extra-inning win over the host Washington Huskies in Pac-10 baseball action Saturday afternoon at Husky Ballpark.
Playing its fifth extra-inning game of the year and the fifth in the last 10 games, the Sun Devils kept to its winning ways in games played past nine innings. Now 4-1 when playing extra frames, the Devils improved to 32-16-1 on the year and improved to 10-9 in Pac-10 play. The Huskies, who entered the game as one of the hottest teams in the Pac-10 winning five of their last six and eight of their last 10 games, dropped to 29-17 overall and 7-12 in Pac-10 play.
"We didn't play especially great today, but this team once again showed their character by playing all nine innings," said Murphy. "I am really proud of these guys for going out there and hanging tough as opponents continue to play us tough. Everyday it is a different hero. Today it was Duffy, Wyrick and the unsung hero Drew Friedberg."
Not to be forgotten in Duffy's heroics was sophomore shortstop Dennis Wyrick who was credited with the game-winning hit by driving in Mike Lopez with the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th inning. It was Wyrick's second game-winning hit of the year in extra innings for the Devils, who also plated the winning runs in ASU's 5-3 win at Oklahoma (4/18) in 11 innings. Backing up a strong overall bullpen performance by the Sun Devils, junior right-hander Andy Torres picked up his 12th win of the year to rank among the NCAA leaders in that category. The combined effort of senior Drew Friedberg, redshirt freshman Aaron Klusman and Torres held the Huskies to just one hit over the final five innings. Torres allowed only one hit in two and a third shutout innings to garnish his third win of the year in extra innings and improved to 6-0 on the year out of the bullpen.
With his 3-for-6 game, Duffy extended his current hitting streak to 10 games, tabbing his eighth multi-hit game during that stretch of games and his 22nd overall in 2001. The junior college transfer from Glendale, Ariz., is hitting .435 (20x46) during that hitting streak with 11 RBI. He improved his season batting average to .370 with his solid game at the plate Saturday vs. UW.
The Devils jumped out to the lead with an unearned run in the top of the second without the benefit of a hit. With two outs, senior first baseman Jeff Phelps drew a walk from UW starter Shawn Kohn. After Phelps stole second base, Sun Devil sophomore shortstop Dennis Wyrick lined a ball off UW first baseman Bryan Johnson that was ruled an error and scored Phelps from second to give the Devils the early advantage.
The Dawgs pulled even with an unearned run of their own in the bottom of the second. Sophomore right fielder Tyler Davidson led off the inning with a triple that was misplayed by ASU freshman right fielder Ryan McKenna. Davidson came into score on a safety squeeze bunt that Phelps mishandled at first base for his fifth error of the season. Washington took the lead in the third with a run-scoring fielder's choice by left fielder Jay Garthwaite.
After the Devils pulled in the fourth on a run-scoring single by Phelps to score freshman Rod Allen, the Huskies capitalized on two-out walk to catcher Jefferson Thiel. With two outs and two strikes, designated hitter Duggan Moran hit a two-run home run deep over the right field fence to take a 4-2 lead.
ASU pulled to within one run with a single tally in the top of the fifth. McKenna tabbed his first career extra base hit with a double to the left field gap to start the rally. After moving to third base on a groundout by Nick Walsh, Duffy plated McKenna with a double to left field. Davidson gave UW a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the fifth with a towering solo home run over the trees in left field at Husky Ballpark to chase Esposito from the game.
The see-saw battle continued in the top of the sixth with the Devils batting around to score three runs to take a 6-5 lead over the Huskies. After junior Brooks Conrad led off the inning with a single up the middle and came into score ASU's fourth run of the game on a groundout by Phelps. Sophomore shortstop Dennis Wyrick sparked a two-out rally with a sharp single to right field. After Wyrick moved to third base on a throwing error by Kohn on a failed pickoff. McKenna collected his second hit of the game to tie the game at 5-5 and Duffy plated the go-ahead run with a single through the right side to score McKenna.
The Huskies pulled even in the bottom of the eighth without the benefit of a hit. UW loaded the bases off relievers Friedberg and Aaron Klusman, then scored the tying run when ace reliever Andy Torres threw an attempted pickoff into center field, allowing Tila Reynolds to score from third base.
The Huskies threatened in the bottom of the ninth when Davidson hit a one-out single off the wall in left field, but was cut down trying to extend the hit into a double when Allen threw him out at second base. ASU then exploded for six runs in the 10th to give ASU the 11-6 win.
Esposito, the reigning Pac-10 Pitcher of the Week, suffered his shortest outing since March 25 at Oregon State, allowing five runs (four earned) in four and a third innings. He struck out two and walked three in taking a no-decision to stay at 4-2 on the year. Washington relief pitcher Tyler Shepple was saddled with the loss to fall to 0-4 on the year. Husky starter Kohn was suffered his roughest outing of the year, allowing five earned runs in five and two-thirds innings. The junior right-hander entered the game with a stellar 1.74 ERA.
In addition to Duffy's strong game, Conrad was also 3-for-6 and the bottom three of the ASU order (Phelps, Wyrick, McKenna) each had two hits and combined to go 6-for-12 (.500). McKenna, starting his second consecutive game in right field, was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI.
The Sun Devils and Huskies will continue their three-game Pac-10 series tomorrow (Sunday) at 1 p.m. at Husky Ballpark. Junior LHP Jon Switzer (4-4, 3.86) will start for Arizona State against Washington's junior left-hander Zack Daniels (4-1, 3.72). The two teams will conclude the series Monday at 1 p.m. Arizona State 11, Washington 6 (May 12, 2001 at Seattle, Wash.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Arizona State....... 010 113 000 5 - 11 14 4 (32-16-1, 10-9 PAC-10) Washington.......... 011 210 010 0 - 6 7 3 (29-17, 7-12 PAC-10) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Pitchers: Arizona State - Esposito, Friedberg(5), Klusman(8), Torres(8). Washington - Kohn, Bomar(6), Shepple(7), Robertson(10). Win-Torres(12-3) Loss-Shepple(0-4) T-3:53 A-589 HR ASU - Duffy (2). HR WASH - Davidson (6), Moran (3). --Sun Devil Baseball--
Copy By Jeff R. Evans
ASU Media Relations