Feb. 18, 2005
NEW ORLEANS, La. (www.TheSunDevils.com) -- The top-ranked Tulane Green Wave score three innings in the first inning and never looked back in a 8-2 victory over No. 11 Arizona State University Friday evening in non-conference action at Turchin Stadium.
The Sun Devils dropped their third straight game to fall to 6-6 overall and battling a tough schedule are 1-4 against ranked opponents. Tulane, ranked No. 1 by Baseball America and a consensus top-five team, improved to 5-0.
Arizona State starter Jason Urquidez (Simi Valley, Calif.) took the loss giving up seven runs (six earned) and tied a career high with six walks in five innings. Despite striking out a season high seven batters, Urquidez fell to 1-1 on the year. Junior Kevin Dryanski (Phoenix, Ariz.) allowed one run and struck out two over the final three innings.
Tulane junior starting pitcher Brian Bogusevic earned the win scattering four this and one run in six innings. The preseason All-American two-way player struck out six and walked three to improve to 2-0 on the season. Junior reliever Billy Mohl sealed the win with five strikeouts over three solid innings to record his first save of the year.
Junior left fielder Colin Curtis (Issaquah, Wash.) led the Sun Devils at the plate going 2-for-3 for his team-leading seventh multi-hit game of the year.
Right fielder Matt Barket led Tulane going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and shortstop Tommy Manzella went 1-for-4 with three RBI.
The Green Wave got off to a quick start and never looked back with three runs in their first at-bat. Leadoff hitter Nathan Southard jump-started the rally with a home run over the left field fence. After two walks and an error by second baseman Vinny Biancamano (Glendale, Ariz.), Manzella plated two runs with a single through the right side of the infield.
ASU cut into the lead with a single tally in the top of the fifth inning. Biancamano led off the inning with a walk and came around to score on a single to left field by freshman center fielder J.J. Sferra (Phoenix, Ariz.).
Tulane made sure an ASU comeback was out of reach, adding four more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to extend the lead to 7-1. Back-to-back doubles by catcher Greg Dini and left fielder Mark Hamilton led off the inning to start the rally. After a run-scoring fielder's choice from Manzella, first baseman Micah Owings drilled a two-run triple off the right field fence. Third baseman Brad Emaus capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly.
The two teams continue the three-game series Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. at Zephyr Stadium (Home of the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs, Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals) in Metairie. Junior left-hander Erik Averill (2-1, 1.64 ERA) is scheduled to pitch for Arizona State against Tulane junior right-hander Micah Owings (1-0, 2.57 ERA).
Game Notes: ASU struck out a season-high 11 times at the plate and left eight men on base... senior Joey Hooft was teammates with Tulane's Matt Barket (RF) and Greg Dini (C) at the University of Miami before transferring to ASU... Jeff Larish was teammates with Micah Owings on the 2003 USA Baseball National Team and Travis Buck was briefly teammates with Brian Bogusevic on the 2004 National Team... the 3,784 fans is the second largest crowed in Turchin Stadium history... Jason Urquidez made his 21st career start and fell to 13-4... his six walks tied a career high and five of his six free passes came on a 3-2 count... ASU is at the .500 mark (6-6) after 12 games for the first time during the Pat Murphy era (1995-P)... freshman catcher Austin Stockfisch made his collegiate debut as a defensive replacement in the bottom of the seventh inning... he became the 14th player and eighth true freshman to make his debut in the Maroon and Gold this season... ASU maintains the lead in the all-time series against Tulane 3-2.
Tulane 8, Arizona State 2 (Feb 18, 2005 at New Orleans, La.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Arizona State....... 000 010 010 - 2 6 2 (6-6) Tulane.............. 300 041 00X - 8 10 1 (5-0) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Pitchers: Arizona State - Urquidez; Dryanski(6). Tulane - Bogusevic; Mohl(7). Win-Bogusevic(2-0) Save-Mohl(1) Loss-Urquidez(1-1) T-3:05 A-3784 HR TULANE - Southard (2).
--Sun Devil Baseball--