May 31, 2003
TEMPE, Ariz. (www.TheSunDevils.com) -- Arizona State starting pitcher Beau Vaughan threw 6 1/3 shutout innings and the Sun Devils scored 12 runs in the top of the ninth inning to turn a pitcher's duel into a rout as the Sun Devils defeated the No. 3 seed New Mexico State Aggies 15-0 Saturday afternoon in NCAA Baseball action at Tempe Diablo Stadium.
The Sun Devils led 1-0 after two innings and then forged ahead with two runs in the seventh before blowing open the game with a 12-run ninth inning. The Sun Devils improved to 52-12 overall and advance to the regional final Sunday afternoon to face the winner of the UNLV/New Mexico State game.
ASU's scored the first run of the game on a two-out double down the left field line by senior third baseman Dennis Wyrick. The single tally stood as the only run of the game until the seventh inning when junior center fielder Andre Ethier plated two more runs with a two-out single to extend the lead to 3-0. The Devils sent 18 runners to the plate and every player scored at least one run in the 12-run ninth inning to seal the victory.
Vaughan, a senior transfer from New Orleans, was stellar in NCAA Tournament debut. The hard-throwing right-hander allowed only four hits and struck out eight in six and one-third innings to improve to 10-5 on the year. The ASU bullpen of Robbie McClellan (0.2 IP, 1 K), Bryce Karlter (0.2 IP), Ryan Schroyer (0.1 IP, 1 K) and Carlos Arguello (1.0 IP, 2 K) combined with Vaughan for ASU's 10th shutout of the season. The five Sun Devil pitchers combined to limit the Aggies to a season-low four hits. NMSU entered the regional ranked third in the NCAA in scoring (10.0 runs per game) and eighth in batting (.332).
NMSU starter Dustin Cameron had a better outing than the outcome would have it, giving up three hits and three runs in six and two-thirds innings. Cameron struck out three, but battled control problems with six walks and two hit batters. Cameron was saddled with the loss to fall to 8-5 on the year.
Although limited to only two hits through the first six innings, ASU exploded for nine hits and 14 runs in its last three at-bats. Junior designated hitter Jeremy West (Las Vegas) extended his career-long hitting streak to 20 games going 3-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored. Ethier went 1-for-4 with a big two-run single to extend his hitting streak to 19 games.
Sophomore All-American shortstop went hitless in his first four at-bats, but recorded a pair of hits, including his 34th double of the year in the 12-run ninth inning. Pedroia notched his 40th multi-hit game of the year and now has 117 hits on the year to rank tied for fifth in ASU single-season history (Oddibe McDowell, 117, 1984).
Game Notes:
The Sun Devils extended their NCAA record consecutive games scoring streak to 497 games... junior Mike Guerrero did not start, but went 1-for-1 with three RBI in two plate appearances... West (20 games) and Ethier (19 games) both extended their career-high hitting streaks... ASU is now 26-2 all-time against New Mexico State and a perfect 26-0 in the state of Arizona... making their 27th appearance in the NCAA Tournament, ASU improved to 126-51 all-time in postseason play... sophomore catcher Tuffy Gosewisch was 1-for-1 in five official plate appearances with two walks, a hit-by-pitch and a sacrifice fly... Gosewisch has at least one hit in 10 of his last 11 games.
Ethier and West Extend Hitting Streak:
Andre Ethier and Jeremy West each extended their career-high hitting streaks in the 15-0 win over New Mexico State. West went 3-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored to extend his streak to 20 games. Ethier went 1-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored to extend his streak to 19 games. Here is a look at how the duo have fared during their respective streaks:
Jeremy West (20 games): .475, 38-for-80, 22 runs, 36 RBI, 4 2B, 8 HR.
Andre Ethier (19 games): .446, 37-for-83, 27 runs, 29 RBI, 3 2B, 3 3B, 7 HR.
Lighting Up The Scoreboard:
ASU has scored 10 or more runs in 34 games (including four straight) this season for a 10.27 runs per game average... ASU has also recorded double-digits in hits in 49 of 64 games... ASU's 12-run ninth inning tied for a season high for runs in an inning and marked the fourth time the Devils have scored 10 or more runs in a single frame this year... during the 12-run ninth inning ASU recorded seven hits and sent a season-high 18 batters to the plate.
Vaughan Wins No. 10, Records 100th Strikeout of 2003:
Behind Beau Vaughan's 6.1 shutout innings to earn his 10th win of the year and the combined effort of four relievers, ASU recorded its 10th shutout of the year. Vaughan leads the team with 10 wins and is second in the Pac-10 with 105 strikeouts. He now has recorded eight or more strikeouts in five games this year.
Great Pitching Leads To 10th Shutout:
Vaughan, McClellan, Kartler, Schroyer and Arguello combined for ASU's 10th shutout of the year. The 10 shutouts are the most by an ASU squad since recording 11 in 1976. The previous most by a Pat Murphy coached squad six in 1999. The Devils had recorded only six shutouts combined between 2000, 2001 and 2002. With nine more innings of shutout baseball, ASU lowered its Pac-10 leading ERA to 3.21, marking the second lowest during the aluminum bat era (1974-P) and the lowest since ASU joined the Pac-10 in 1979.
Pedroia Notches 40th Multi-Hit Game:
Sophomore Dustin Pedroia went hitless in his first four at-bats, but the All-American shortstop recorded two hits in the 12-run ninth inning to notch his 40th multi-hit game of the year. Pedroia has been hitless in only four games in 2003 (hits in 60 of 64 games) and enters Sunday's regional championship game hitting .419 (117-for-279). His 117 hits are ranked tied for fifth in ASU single-season history, now just 12 hits off the ASU and Pac-10 record of 129 hits (Paul Lo Duca, 129, 1993). Pedroia has now started all 122 games of his ASU career and is now 15-for-31 (.484) in six career NCAA Tournament games. The slick-fielding shortstop has also not made an error in the last 22 games.
Arizona State 15, New Mexico State 0 (May 31, 2003 at Tempe, Ariz.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Arizona State....... 010 000 20(12) - 15 11 0 (52-12) New Mexico State.... 000 000 000 - 0 4 1 (43-17) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Pitchers: Arizona State - Vaughan; McClellan(7); Kartler(8); Schroyer(8); Arguello(9). New Mexico State - CAMERON; ALLEN(7); JACQUEZ(8); SHAW(9). Win-Vaughan(10-5) Loss-CAMERON(8-5) T-3:33 A-2410