Feb. 15, 2003
SURPRISE, Ariz. (www.TheSunDevils.com) - The No. 5 Arizona State Sun Devils used a strong starting pitching performance from senior Beau Vaughan and capitalized on two key Oklahoma State errors in route to a 7-3 win over the Cowboys Saturday afternoon in front of 1,922 fans at Surprise Stadium. The game was the fourth contest of the inaugural Coca-Cola Spring Training College Baseball Classic at the new spring training facility of the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals.
Beating one of the nation's best right-handed pitchers in OSU's Scott Baker, ASU improved to 16-1 on the season and have now won seven in a row. Oklahoma State dropped to 1-3 on the young season. The 16-1 start is the best by an ASU squad since going 17-1 in 1988 and 18-1 in 1978.
Baker, who is rated as the No. 26 overall college prospect for the 2003 Major League Draft, had a 1-0 lead heading into the fifth, but Vaughan was right at his heels allowing only one Cowboy run in the first five frames. After leaving four runners in scoring position in the first four innings, ASU capitalized on a key throwing error by Baker to forge ahead with a six-run fifth inning. Sophomore shortstop Dustin Pedroia provided the big blow with a two-run triple to center field to put ASU on the board. Junior preseason All-American Rod Allen added two more runs when he broke out of a 2-for-22 slump with a two-run single to right field.
After Oklahoma State added single tallies in each the seventh and eighth innings off the ASU bullpen, the Devils added a key insurance run in the eighth when Travis Buck doubled and came in to score on a sacrifice fly by sophomore first baseman Jeff Larish.
Vaughan picked up the win for the Sun Devils with eight strikeouts in five innings of work to improve to 2-1 on the season. The senior transfer from New Orleans scattered five hits and walked two while throwing 97 pitches. Freshman lefty Brett Bordes gave up one run in two innings and junior closer Ryan Schroyer nailed down the win with a scoreless ninth inning.
Baker, who was the reigning Big 12 Pitcher of the Week after throwing seven shutout innings against nationally ranked Stetson last weekend, was touched for seven hits and six runs (two earned) in five and a third innings. He struck out three and walked five.
Buck led ASU at the plate with a 2-for-4 game and tabbed his fourth double of the year. Andre Ethier (2x5) and Allen (2x3, 2 RBI) also recorded multi-hit games for the Sun Devils.
Arizona State returns to action tomorrow in the final game of the Coca-Cola Classic with a 3 p.m. game against Pac-10 rival Oregon State (3-2). The Beavers are 2-0 in the tournament, allowing only one run in wins over Oklahoma State and Gonzaga. The Cowboys will face Gonzaga in the morning game (11 a.m.) at Surprise Stadium.
Game Notes: Arizona State now leads the all-time series against Oklahoma State 10-7... with his triple in the fifth inning, Pedroia has now recorded a hit in 16 of ASU's 17 games... ASU's 16-1 start is the best since going 17-1 in 1988... ASU has now scored in an NCAA record 450 straight games... ASU was 4-0 last year against tomorrow's opponent, Oregon State... Beau Vaughan made his first career start as a Sun Devil and now a team-high 27 strikeouts in 21.1 innings pitched... Larish had his six-game hitting streak snapped, but did record his 30th RBI and 24th walk of the year in the victory... Ethier was 0-for-1 with the bases loaded vs. OSU and is now 1-for-6 on the year in that situation... Schroyer has yet to allow an earned run in 9.1 IP this year... ASU has now played three straight nine-inning games under three hours.
Arizona State 7, Oklahoma State 3 (Feb 15, 2003 at Surprise, Ariz.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Oklahoma State...... 010 000 110 - 3 9 4 (1-3) Arizona State....... 000 060 01X - 7 9 0 (16-1) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Pitchers: Oklahoma State - Baker; Hawk(6); Quaempts(7); McDonald(8). Arizona State - Vaughan; Bordes(6); Lopez, J.(8); Kartler(8); Schroyer(9). Win-Vaughan(2-1) Loss-Baker(1-1) T-2:59 A-1922