March 8, 2002
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Arizona State junior starting pitcher Robbie McClellan fired his second consecutive complete-game with 10 strikeouts and sophomore Jeremy West was 2-for-4 with four RBI and hit his fifth home run of the year as the 15th-ranked Sun Devils routed UNLV 10-0 in a mercy-rule shortened seven-inning game Friday night at Packard Stadium. The victory gave ASU head coach Pat Murphy his 600th career victory at the Division 1 level.
Freshman third baseman Dustin Pedroia sealed the victory with a two-run, walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning with no outs for his first career home run. The victory extended ASU's winning streak to five games (six of last seven), improving to 13-5 on the year. UNLV, who won earlier in the day at the inaugural Bob Schaefer Memorial Classic with an 11-5 win over St. John's, drops to 10-9 on the year.
Straight off a complete-game three-hitter in his first career start as a Sun Devil last weekend against Loyola Marymount, McClellan (Liberal, Kan.) was phenomenal in his outing Friday night with a career-high 10 strikeouts. Allowing only four hits while throwing 98 pitches in seven innings, McClellan battled back from allowing eight walks last weekend to not walking a batter tonight. McClellan is now 4-2 on the year with a team-leading 2.10 ERA.
In the first, the Devils continued a trend that has seen the team score a run in the first inning in 12 of its 18 games. Sophomore Rod Allen tabbed a two-out single and after a balk moved him to second base, first baseman and Las Vegas native West plated him with a bloop single to right field. ASU added another run in the second inning in nearly the same fashion. A lead off walk and another balk to move a runner into scoring position proved to be pivotal, as sophomore leadoff hitter Steve Garrabrants plated senior Sergio Garcia with a two-out single to stake the Sun Devils to the early 2-0 lead.
After a run in the third, West doubled ASU's lead with a three-run home run deep over the left-center field fence in the fifth inning that landed on Rio Salado Parkway. On his home run trot, West glared a smile into the UNLV dugout, later saying he had to have fun with the five former teammates of his when he prepped at Silverado High School in Las Vegas.
Three hit-by-pitches led to two more runs in the bottom of the sixth, giving way for the two-run, walk-off home run by Pedroia in the seventh inning.
UNLV starter Giovanni Pupo was saddled with the loss, allowing three hits and one run in only one inning of work. The Rebels were led at the plate by the two doubles from center fielder Brent Johnson.
In addition to the solid game from West, Allen was 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored and Pedroia capped off a solid day in the field going 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored. Senior Jon Sheaffer extended his hitting streak to a career-high 12 games with a single in the fourth inning.
The Sun Devils will continue tournament play tomorrow with a 7 p.m. game against St. John's at Packard Stadium. UNLV will conclude their three-game set in Tempe, playing Oklahoma State at 3 p.m. ASU will host the nationally ranked Cowboys at 1 p.m. in the finale of the tournament. Sophomore RHP Mike Esposito (3-2, 3.41) will start on the mound vs. the Red Storm tomorrow night.
Game Notes: The Devils made their Packard Stadium debut in 2002, having played the previous 14 games this year at Mesa's Hohokam Park... the Devils are now 786-228-1 all-time at Packard Stadium since opening in 1974... with the run in the first inning, ASU has now scored in the first frame in 12 of 18 games this year... UNLV has definitely had they year of the balk, with two more vs. ASU, have now committed 17 in 19 games this year... West now has four of his team-leading five home runs in the last eight games... in other tournament action, UNLV defeated St. John's 11-5 in the first game and No. 12/21 Oklahoma State defeated St. John's 17-4 in a shortened six and a half inning game. Arizona State 10, UNLV 0 (Mar 08, 2002 at Tempe, Ariz.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- UNLV................ 000 000 0 - 0 4 0 (10-9) Arizona State....... 110 132 2 - 10 9 0 (13-5) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Pitchers: UNLV - Pupo, Scheinbaum(2), Watts(5), Berman(7). Arizona State - McClellan. Win-McClellan(4-2) Loss-Pupo(1-1) T-2:14 A-2254 HR ASU - West (5), Pedroia (1). --Sun Devil Baseball--