April 13, 2003
BERKELEY, Calif. - Arizona State relief pitcher Beau Vaughan scattered three hits in six scoreless innings out of the bullpen to help give the No. 4 Sun Devils a 6-0 shutout victory over the California Golden Bears Sunday afternoon at Evans Diamond.
The shutout victory was ASU's sixth of the year and first in Pac-10 play since April 7, 2000 when current Tampa Bay Devil Rays prospect Jon Switzer handled the Oregon State Beavers in a 1-0 win at Packard Stadium.
With both teams battling rainy conditions in the Bay Area, ASU earned the victory to improve to 37-7 overall and 5-3 in Pac-10 victory. With the series clinching victory, ASU equaled its season total in wins in 2001 (37-20-1) and 2002 (37-21). California dropped to 20-17 overall and 6-5 in conference play.
Vaughan, a senior transfer from New Orleans who prepped at Mountain Ridge High School in Glendale, Ariz., struck out three and walked two his six-inning relief appearance to improve to 6-2 on the year. Vaughan relieved starter Ben Thurmond who battled the rain and control problems by walking five in three innings.
Golden Bear starter Brian Montalbo suffered the loss giving up five runs (two earned) and walking four in one and a third innings.
Junior designated player Nick Walsh (Alamo, Calif.) was 3-for-3 and reached base in all five of his at-bats in only his sixth start of the year to lead the Devils at the plate. Walsh, who recorded his first multi-hit game since 2001, also had a run scoring single in the sixth inning. Registering only eight hits during the wind-blown game, junior second baseman Steve Garrabrants was the only other Devil to tally a multi-hit game going 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Sophomore shortstop Dustin Pedroia, who was hitting in the third spot in the lineup for the first time this year, went 0-for-4 to go hitless for only the third game this year.
The Sun Devils scored the first runs of the game with a five-run second frame despite recording only an infield bunt single. Four California walks, a hit batter and two errors helped stake ASU to the early 5-0 lead.
After being held scoreless for three innings, the Devils added another run to their lead with a single tally in the sixth. After Steve Garrabrants led off with a single and catcher Tuffy Gosewisch reached on a hit-by-pitch, center fielder Ryan Bosch moved the runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Walsh plated Garrabrants with a sharp single to center field.
Arizona State and California will try to sneak in the third game of the series before daylight runs out Sunday at Evans Diamond. If the game is not completed Sunday, the two teams will finish up Monday.